Bhubaneswar: The much-awaited ropeway project at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Odisha capital will be operational very soon soon. Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra has directed the officials concerned to make it functional within a month.
The Chief Secretary visited Nandankanan on Saturday and reviewed a number of development works that are underway in the zoo.
Around 3,000 visitors will be able to take a ride of the ropeway in a day. It is expected that a large number of visitors coming from within and outside the state will throng the zoo this year.
Anticipating an increased footfall, the development works have been targeted to be completed soon. The ropeway will enable riders to travel to and fro Botanical Garden and Nandankanan Zoo.
The Chief Secretary directed the officials concerned to expedite the works meant for visitors.
Mahapatra visited Chudanga reserve forest and Krushnanagar proposed forest. Expansion of Nandankanan Zoo is to be carried out on an area spread over 604 hectares of the forest coming under Chudanga and Krushnanagar. Lion, tiger, bear and a few herbivore animal safaris are to be developed in the forest area.
The project includes vehicular provision for movement inside the safari and a veterinary hospital as well. Mohapatra also ordered early completion of the safari project, official sources said.
Kiakani Lake in Nandankanan will be restored at a cost of Rs 9 crore, where a boating facility is being developed.
Mahapatra also reviewed different ongoing development works at Botanical Garden, including an entry gate, an access road, toilets and a pavement, the source added.
The Chief Secretary asked Nandankanan Zoo director Manoj V Nair to prepare a master plan for the proposed expansion, modernisation and restoration works, the sources addded.
