Country’s first night safari to be built in Lucknow, new zoo will also be built

All the hurdles in setting up the country’s first night safari and new zoo in UP capital Lucknow have been removed. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has issued the permission letter on May 15 for setting up both in the forests of Kukrail. This is being considered as a big achievement of the state government.

In August last year, the cabinet had cleared a proposal to set up a night safari at Kukrail and shift the capital’s zoo there. Since then the Forest Department was engaged in obtaining all kinds of NOCs and completing the formalities for their establishment.

The forests of Kukrail are spread over 2027.46 hectares. The country’s first night safari will be set up on the lines of Singapore in 350 acres. Zoological garden will be built in 150 acres. 1000 acres of land has been identified in such a way that there will be no harm to the original nature of the forest area.

Will cost Rs 1500 crore

Both the projects will cost around Rs 1500 crore. After getting the permission letter from the CZA, now the Forest Department will take the services of an international level consultant to prepare the Detailed Report (DPR) of the projects.

Proposals will also be invited from open tender for appointment of consultant. These works will be done in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode. That is, the firm which will take the contract for the establishment of night safari and zoo, will have to do all the work on its own on the set standards. Global tenders will be invited for this, as no expert agency is currently present in the country for this work.