In a bid to protect the environment and preserve the species of mangroves, Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) has come up with a unique project called ‘The Boardwalk over the Mangroves’ which is all set to complete by June 25. 

The project was taken by IPSCDL in January 2018 at a total cost of Rs 2.5 crore idea is to create an open air museum which will  explain all the species and the role they play in our ecology.

Mangroves are the trees or shrubs which grow in saline tidal waters. Goa has an abundance of these and they play a very important role in the ecology of the state. Mangroves are a breeding ground for fish; they house small wild life and are a bulwark against the onslaught of the sea. They are visually very interesting and have numerous tangled roots that grow above the ground. 

Speaking to Herald, IPSCDL, MD and CEO Swayamdipta Pal Chaudhuri said, “We had taken this project in January 2018 and will be completed by June 25. The entire cost of the project is Rs 2.5 crore. The project is called as ‘The Boardwalk over the Mangroves’. Not a single Mangrove was cut during the construction. Also there will be display boards so that people know the kind of species.”

The under construction walkway is 1125 square metres. The idea is to create an open air Museum which explains all the species and the role they play in our ecology.  It will also explain the many benefits of individual plants. The mangrove walk will also show the breeding ground of the fish and other wild life. Along the walk will be areas to sit and relax. 

The Mangrove walk will educate locals and tourists to the importance of Mangroves and the many benefits they offer to society. It will go a long way in preservation of this important species. 

The walk is made entirely of wood. There are wooden piles and then there are wooden members on top of which is a wooden deck. The entire design respects the context/surroundings i.e. the mangroves and ensures that the materials used do not harm the mangrove ecosystem in any manner.

Further, the Mangrove walk will be a tourist attraction and will be similar to those in other Countries. It will bring financial benefit to Panjim and the State of Goa. 

Meanwhile, the Mangrove walk will add on to the IPSCDL’s objective of pedestrian zing the City of Panjim. It will also reclaim more area for children and senior citizens, thus providing them an avenue for connecting with nature and understanding the importance of mangroves in the coastal ecosystem of Goa. This will eventually lead to higher sensitivity among the Citizens of Panjim and Goa towards protection of the delicate mangrove ecosystem.