Patna: Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, popularly known as Patna Zoo, is set to introduce a new attraction—a treetop walkway, the first of its kind in Bihar. The proposal has been sent to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for approval.Additional chief secretary of environment, forest and climate change Anand Kishor said on Saturday that the project is likely to get approval this month, after which construction will begin. He said the detailed project report has already been prepared. He said that in the first phase, the 100-metre-long walkway will connect two Ceylon oak trees, with several others in between. Built 15 feet above the ground, the wooden walkway will be 16 feet wide. The project will cost around Rs 2 crore, he said.Kishor shared these details while chairing the second governing body meeting of the zoo’s management and development society. He said the upgrades aim to improve visitor facilities and overall management. “The zoo will also develop 15 selfie points at scenic spots. A new cafeteria will be built near gate no. 1 at a cost of Rs 4.87 crore, along with two additional food kiosks inside the zoo,” he said.Gates no. 1 and 2 will be rebuilt with archways, ticket counters, kiosks, cloakrooms, staff rooms and souvenir shops. Another souvenir shop will be set up inside the zoo. More toilets and water kiosks will be added at a cost of about Rs 4.94 crore.The children’s park will be redesigned, and 150 eco-friendly benches will be installed across the zoo. Sixteen paid guides will also be introduced, charging Rs 10 per service. Approval has been given for 23 new staff posts, including pharmacists and technical workers. The salaries of 346 zoo employees have been increased by Rs 2,000 per month. The toy train will be revived and upgraded with a Rs 5 crore allocation to Indian Railways.Kishor said several animals brought under the CZA exchange programme from Delhi and Rohtak will be displayed after May 10. These include six sangai deer, four white blackbucks, four rosy pelicans, four painted storks, two green iguanas, two silver pheasants and a white tigress.The meeting was attended by Prabhat Kumar Gupta, principal chief conservator of forests; Abhay Kumar, principal chief conservator of forests (climate change and wetlands), Bihar; S Chandrashekhar, director of ecology; Hemant Patil, zoo director; Mahabir Prasad Sharma, special secretary, finance department; and Smita Sinha, additional secretary, dairy, fisheries and animal resources department, among other officers.
