Nagpur, Jan 24
Gorewada International Zoo, one of the prestigious project of Nagpur city and largest zoological parks in India (in terms of area) has finally taken shape. The park will cover an area of approximately 564 hectares, when it becomes fully operational and estimated to cost around `450 crores.
Addressing a press conference before the scheduled inauguration of the facility at the hands of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on January 26, FDCM’s divisional director N S Vasudevan said, “The Gorewada International Zoo was conceived in 2005 for the first time and the total project cost for the entire zoo is estimated at `450 crores, out of which `200 crores will be given by the State government and is already accounted for in the budget. The remaining `250 crores will be invested by a private partner. Currently Essel Group is the private partner, but the government may decide on funding the entire project or search another partner,” added Vasudevan in a reply to a question.
The zoo will be rechristined as ‘Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park Nagpur’ by CM Uddhav Thackeray and the same has been displayed at the park. He will be inaugurating the park on January 26 at 3 pm. Given the opposition to the renaming of the park, the administration and the police are prepared to deal with any eventuality. A heavy police bandobast has already been deployed at the entrance of the zoo.
The zoo will be inaugurated at 3 pm and the program will be chaired by Forest Minister Sanjay Rathore. union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Guardian Minister Dr Nitin Raut, Animal Husbandry Minister Sunil Kedar, Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray, Minister of State for Public Works Animal Husbandry Dattatraya Bharane, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis and other guests will also be present on the occasion.
Indian Safari to begin
from January 27
The main attraction of the zoological park, Indian Safari will be open for citizens from January 27. Citizens can book the tickets online as well as at the park on counter (offline). Indian Safari will have 4 different safari’s consisting Leopard Safari, Slot Bear Safari, Tiger Safari and Herbivore Safari. One tiger Raj Kumar and tigress Lee has been released into Tiger Safari, while four leopards have been released in leopard safari. A total of seven leopards will be released over a period of time. The slot bear safari will have six sloth bears and 14 blue bulls and four chitals have been released in herbivore safari.
The second phase of the Singapore-style project has been completed and a master plan has been approved by the Central Zoo Authority. The African Safari will begin in 18 months and will have zebras, lions, elephants and other animals. Walking Trail will be completed in six months, where in visitors can take a walk amid the animals through a protected passage. When fully complete, the park will have Tribal Trail, Night Safari, Bio Park, Trail of Senses.
General manager Rishikesh Ranjan, principal chief conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Nitin Kakodkar, chief general manager (Drug Management) of FDCM Meera Iyer, Srinivas Rao, divisional manager of Gorewada Pramod Panchbhai were also present on the occasion.
Heavy police
deployment at the park
Despite opposition from social organisations to the renaming and inauguration on January 26, the government is firm on renaming the park. The proposed name has been installed at the entrance here on Sunday afternoon. Police in riot gear have been deployed at the park. On Sunday afternoon, commissioner of police Amitesh Kumar and deputy commissioner of police Vinita Sahu visited the park and oversaw the security arrangements. Police contingent was increased in the afternoon to beef up security at the park.