Gone is the litter of plastic and paper. You will now be greeted by clean sand and towering metallic lights that only add to the gentleness of the sea breeze.

Navalkar said the change is the result of a group effort spread over three-and-a-half months. ``It has been a pet idea of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray to beautify Mumbai's beaches, and we had spoken of cleaning up Girgaum Chowpatty a year ago. I'm happy his desire has been fulfilled.''

Thackeray will visit the new Lokmanya Tilak Udyan, sponsored by the Godrej group, on January 26. The park is situated next to the Tilak statue. ``There were hundreds of encroachers who had built hutmentshere, and persons of bad repute and drug peddlers who used to frequent the area had made it very filthy,'' said Navalkar. Now the area has been fenced, sand has been replaced with mud, and a lawn is being built amid tall trees. ``There will soon be 90 benches along the beach's border, and flower pots will be placed,'' he added. Manoj Chandra, a spokesperson for Godrej Soaps, said the company spent Rs 5 lakh on the park and will also be maintaining it.

Adjoining the park will be a small `Nanu park' for children. It will have imported toys donated by the Kamat chain of restaurants. A corner of the park will be specially for mentally challenged children.

Further down is a `Nana-Nani park' for the elderly. Designed by Shelter Singhania, this 2500-sq m park with its 48 benches dotting the paved walking area is shaded with many trees and has a boundary lit with lamps which cast a gentle glow in the evening. ``There will be a small circular kabootar khana soon in one corner, and in another, there will be dailyreadings from the Geeta in Marathi. Besides, Dr Vijay Mehta of Leelavati Hospital has offered to send doctors twice a week to the park for conducting free check-ups,'' said Navalkar. A group of senior citizens, who have already formed a Nana-Nani club, were all praise for the Minister's initiative. P M Kadakia, a 60-year-old Opera House resident said: ``This beach has now become very safe for me and my peers, who come here every morning and evening for walks.''

The beach used every year by lakhs of Mumbaiites for Ganpati immersion will now have only one entrance, as other entrances are being walled by BMC. The BMC has not only cleared the footpath of encroachers, but given a spanking new pavement. Yet another improvement will be the setting up of a bhel plaza, a circular space for about 30 bhelwallahs who are now scattered at one end of the beach. The area they now occupy will be turned into a green patch, said the Minister, who has banned hawking on the stretch of the beach opposite the park.Neither will any form of animal rides be allowed on the beach, which will be open to the public from early morning till 12.30 am. The Air-Force has also offered to give an old gnat airplane for display on the beach, informed Navalkar.

The park for elders will be open from 6 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 9 pm. Shyam Singhania said the park will be guarded by three guards they have employed.

Asked how he would maintain the beach, Navalkar said Mahindra and Mahindra's have already provided 18 private guards who man the beach 24 hours. Apart from that, the beach has three police chowkies, and two jeeps connected by walkie-talkies are on continuous duty.Future plans for Chowpatty also include provision of umbrellas on rent and introduction of water sports.

Meanwhile, the original six fishermen's families inhabiting the beach area will be rehabilitated next to Birla Krida Kendra, Navalkar said.