Zeack News

Mumbai, June 19 : The city zoo, which has been receiving flak since the death of a five-year-old hippopotamus in April, is all set to adorn a new look by 2012.

After receiving the green signal from Mumbai Heritage Committee for the Rs 433-crore modernisation plan last week, Byculla Zoo Authorities, is now awaiting approval from the Standing Committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to start the facelift.



"The work will be carried out in four phases and it would start after clearance from the Standing Committee. While tenders for Phase I has been received, tenders will be invited for the remaining three phases soon," Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Gardens) Vikram Pawar said.



The proposal is likely to come up for approval before the Standing Committee next week.



Thailand-based HKS Designer and Consultancy had prepared the Rs 433-crore master plan for the 53-acre Veermata Jijabai Bhosale zoo at Byculla in central Mumbai.



In Phase I, a civic administration building will be constructed. The construction would also include an interpretation centre, a zoo hospital, a quarantine area, perimeter wall, fencing and a service road which will be taken up at a cost of nearly Rs 34 crore.



"While all this work is being carried out the zoo will not be closed down completely but it will be shut in phases," Pawar said. Ze