Nandankanan Expansion & Revamp Planned, Bigger Jungle Safari Soon

Photograph: Suprakash Mishra

Nandankanan, the zoo on the outskirts of Odisha capital, is all set for a makeover. The zoo, famous for its white tigers, will now have a new bigger jungle safari in the nearby Chandaka area.

According to sources, wild animals will be released here and Bharatpur Reserve Forest. Besides, 200 deer will be released into Chandaka, including 100 into Chudanga and Krushna Nagar, the new additions under Nandankanan authority.

The new safari is likely to come up on 610 hectares of Chudanga Reserve Forest and Krushna Nagar protected area of Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary. These additions have increased the total area to 1,047 ha from 437 ha. Earlier, Nandankanan was limited to the zoo, Kanjia lake and botanical garden.

The zoo will also have a multi-storey parking facility to tide over the frequent traffic snarls. There will be a new bus stand and food court area outside the zoo area soon. The defunct rope-way and toy train are likely to re-installed, the sources added.

It is estimated that 3.5 million tourists visit the zoo every year, and the number peaks during the New Year.

This is in line with the state government’s plans to ramp up eco-tourism infrastructure throughout the state. Extension of boating facilities at Satkosia gorge, Jungle Safari in Similipal, new bird watch tower at Nalabana, and day tours from Bhubaneswar to Bhitarkanika, Satkosia and Mangalajodi are in the pipeline.