Bhubaneswar: Visitors to Nandankanan Zoological Park, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, may get to ride the much-awaited aerial ropeway, which is ready for operation and awaiting nod from the government, by October-end or early next month.
According to sources, the operating agency has applied for licence for the ropeway from the Works department, which is carrying out inspection and examining the same.
The project work had started in October 2021 following an agreement of Nandankanan with Kolkata-based Damodar Ropeway Infra Limited (DRIL) for the ropeway construction at an investment of around Rs 13 crore. The deadline for making it functional was 18 months.
The ropeway, which will start from the zoo campus and culminate at the botanical garden covering a distance of 626 metre, has been constructed with mono-cable pulsated with two towers. It has 12 cabins, each having the capacity to accommodate three to six persons.
Notably, the ropeway has been developed around the ‘jungle theme’ and features intricate tribal art from the region and highlights the natural flora and fauna.”It will not only provides visitors with a thrilling ride over the jungle but also an immersive experience that showcases Odisha’s art and culture. The project’s use of local materials, art, and iconography will also popularise local arts and crafts,” Damodar Ropeways MD Aditya Chamaria had earlier said.
Sources further said that the zoo authorities have proposed a ‘night out programme’ and ‘nocturnal trail’ for visitors, especially students, to the park, spread over 437-hectare, in its 2040 master plan submitted to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA). Plans are afoot for expansion of its existing safaris in the extended areas of Chudanga reserve forest and Krushna Nagar protected forest that were merged with the Zoological Park, a couple of years back.
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