India, May 10 -- Nearly a year after it was declared complete, Mumbai's much-publicised mangrove park at Gorai continues to remain inaccessible to the public, with repeated inauguration delays triggering frustration among environmentalists, educators and local residents. Residents say the prolonged wait has deprived the city of a major ecological learning and eco-tourism space, particularly during the summer holidays when schools and students could have benefited the most.

Touted as the country's first dedicated mangrove park, the Rs.33.43-crore project was envisioned as a flagship conservation and eco-tourism initiative aimed at familiarising visitors with Mumbai's fragile coastal ecosystem through elevated boardwalks, birdwatching faci...