BMC's ambitious plans for the zoo

Mumbai, Jun 08 (UNI) The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has drawn up an ambitious Rs 434 crore plan for redevelopment in three phases of the ''Veer Jijamata Udyan' at Byculla in central Mumbai.

The Zoo would get an additional seven acre land from Mafatlal mills, R A Rajiv, additional municipal commissioner, told reporters here today.

On the recommendations of Messrs H K Designers and Consultants from Thailand, the zoo will be totally revamped. Under the redevelopment plan, that will be taken up in three phases, an administration building, a 3D theatre, staff building and parking space for 120 cars will come up in the first phase.

The zoo will have special sections for Asian and the South East Asian enclosures and will have animals from these areas. The enclosures will be made at a cost of about Rs 156 crore.

The revamp plans in the second phase include increase in animal species from 81 to 98. these include 39 mammals, 5 aquatic animals, 28 reptiles and 26 other animals.

In the third phase, the zoo will have a night safari with lightings and will allow the visitor to have a look at the wildlife at night.

The facilities of the night safari will be open till mid-night.

The Asian and the South Asian animals will be on the left hand side and other animals on the right hand side.

On ticketing format, Rajeev said, ''there will be limited number of tickets issued according to the space available and they will cost more on weekends and holidays.'' Rajiv said there will be adddition in the staff from the present 68 to 192. They will either be contracted or managed by the BMC. The staff can be managed by wild life conservancy group on a no profit no loss basis.

UNI