Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and dedicated to the nation the ‘Aquatic Gallery’ in Gujarat touted as India’s largest public aquarium. The first step towards realising the gallery started with a general consultant’s view, followed by a detailed design architect, after which Shapoorji Pallonji, which has a joint venture with New Zealand-based Marinescape gave the gallery shape.
Marinescape is expected to provide exhibit and technical support, and the Shapoorji Pallonji-Marinescape JV will be maintaining the gallery for a period of five years at least. The Aquatic gallery spread over an area of 15,000 square meter will be the largest aquarium in India. It has 68 tanks showcasing 188 marine species including Penguins. A key attraction of the aquatic gallery is a 28 metre long unique walk way tunnel. The construction and maintenance cost Rs 260 crore and the aquatic gallery is “expected to be the largest public aquarium in India,” according to an official statement from the Science City. The multiple ecosystems which are being emulated in the 68 tanks, such as the Indian Zone, the Asian Zone, the African Zone, the American Zone etc, will require precise maintenance of several water parameters such as pH level, salinity level or TDS level, chemical oxygen and bio-oxygen demand etc depending on requirement of species.
There are also laboratories in the back-end of the gallery, to facilitate on-the-spot testing of water samples and a team of marine biologists will also be present, facilitated by the Shapoorji Pallonji-Marinescape joint venture.
