Mumbai: For the first time, Mumbai civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has put up a three-dimensional hologram at the historic Girgaum Chowpatty at the mouth of the famous Marine Drive.
The hologram is part of the Rs 1,700-crore Mumbai beautification project, which was announced by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in September last year ahead of the Mumbai civic elections this year.
“Hologram is the first one in Mumbai and we have started it on a pilot basis. We will see the public response and add more material to it,” a BMC official told ThePrint on the condition of anonymity.
The Rs 1,700-crore project also includes beautification of the Gateway of India, pedestrian-friendly footpaths, illumination of 13 skywalks connecting railway stations, painting of walls and glowing gardens.
‘Material No Obstacle’
The BMC official said that the cost of this hologram is around Rs 4 lakh and for now it displays flowers, animals, birds and a heart. However, the content can be changed as per the occasion, he added.
“Content is not a constraint and there is more scope to put different content according to patriotic themes, or season and festival,” he added.
The hologram has been installed at a viewing deck at Girgaum Chowpatty, which was inaugurated by the then Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in April last year.
Karthik Pandit, who lives nearby along with his family, had come to see the hologram. He said, “It is unique and I have never seen anything like this before, so I would recommend others to come here as well.”
The official told ThePrint that Tilak Udyan, located next to Girgaum Chowpatty, is also being given a facelift. A glow garden and light and sound show have been planned there and the BMC hopes to inaugurate it by the end of March.
Replicas of animals, birds and trees will be on display and its benches will light up. Chowpatty will be curtained for light and sound show. The official said the content would be decided later but initially a common theme would be used.
The BMC is confident of getting the mandatory approval from the High Powered Committee and Collector of Girgaum Chowpatty for the Tilak Udyan project.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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