The spots shortlisted under this beautification plan include Nariman Point, Haji Ali, Worli, Mahim and the suburbs beyond. Rane has given a green signal to the project and has set up a three-member committee headed by Public Works Minister Nitin Gadkari to study its feasibility. Other members of the committee will be the urban development secretary and the environment secretary.

The committee will finalise the plans, as also its cost within a month. The chief minister held a meeting of the committee members on Saturday in which he suggested gardens be developed by processing the waste water released into the sea from nearby canals.Contractor had similarly built gardens near Osho Ashram in Pune.

He felt that encouraging response would be received from various sponsors to build gardens and green belts on land reclaimed from the sea along the coast. Union minister for forests and environment Suresh Prabhu assured of central help to the project.

On Friday, Contractor had made a slide demonstration at the Sahyadri guest house. The demo was attended by Rane, Suresh Prabhu, Mayor Nandu Satam, Urban Development Secretary K Nandlal and builder N Hiranandani, among others.

The chief minister has also urged the BMC and other NGOs and voluntary organisations to come forward with help and suggestions to make Mumbai more beautiful. Contractor was unavailable for comment today.