GUWAHATI, Oct 2: Assam’s State Zoo cum Botanical Garden in Guwahati is set for a major redevelopment under a project worth around Rs 340 crore, with the government planning to turn it into a world-class wildlife destination.
Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah announced the plan on Thursday while inaugurating the 72nd Wildlife Week celebrations at the zoo and reviewing ongoing development work.
The redevelopment will include new infrastructure and visitor facilities while retaining and utilising the zoo’s natural surroundings. Baruah said the project, once completed, would transform the zoo into a leading wildlife facility in India and internationally.
A major bird aviary is among the proposed attractions. The minister said it was being developed on a large scale and could potentially become one of the biggest bird aviaries in the world.
A toy train is also planned to help visitors travel across the sprawling zoo complex and access different areas more easily.
Baruah said construction work was progressing satisfactorily, with several facilities expected to take shape over the next three to four months. He, however, said the complete redevelopment would take longer.
Forest Department officials have also visited zoological parks in Bengaluru and Chennai to study their facilities and identify practices that could be adopted in the Assam project.
The minister inaugurated the Wildlife Week programmes with a Gaja Puja, followed by a bike rally involving forest personnel from the zoo to Pobitora.
Earlier, on Gandhi Jayanti, Baruah paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and inspected ongoing development works at the zoo and botanical garden. Senior Forest Department officials, zoo officers and staff attended the programme.
