Lion safari project in Rajkot takes off, RMC identifies firm for fencing site

The standing committee cleared the proposal to award the Rs 23.64-crore project to private firm PM Enterprise. The proposal said that four firms had submitted bids for the work, but one of them was not found eligible. Among the remaining three, PM enterprise quoted Rs 23.64 crore — the same as RMC estimates — for executing the work. The two others — MG Bathwar and Rathod Construction — submitted bids 4.95 per cent and 8.75 per cent higher than the RMC estimates.

“We are going to develop a lion safari park near Pradyuman Park. There was a proposal to secure this land by erecting a chain-link fence and the standing committee has approved of it,” Patel told media persons after the meeting.

The RMC budget for 2023-24 has allocated Rs 2 crore for the proposed lion safari park. Patel said that formalities of getting approval of the Central Zoo Authority for the proposed lion safari park have almost been completed. “RMC is working constantly to develop a lion safari park in Rajkot and the formality of getting clearance from the Central Zoo Authority for it is almost over,” said the standing committee chairman.

Incidentally, the RMC-run RZP is a participating zoo in the conservation breeding of Asiatic lions programme of the Gujarat government. Besides having an enclosure to display Asiatic lions in the Pradyuman Park zoo, RMC also keeps a few captive lions in an enclosure of its old zoo at Aji dam site.

According to the proposal, the chain-link fence will cost RMC Rs 23.63 lakh and has been necessitated to allow tree plantation on the plot that has been divided among revenue survey No. 144, 145, 150 and 638. “Among these, around nine hectares land of survey No.150 and 638 does not have trees at all. It is necessary, therefore, to plant trees during the rainy season this year and erect a chain-link fencing with barbed wires as per layout to protect planted saplings from cattle and other animals,” said the proposal.

The proposal said that residents of Rajkot city as well as people from neighbouring districts visit the Pradyuman Park zoo. The lion safari park, the proposal said, would add to tourist attractions in the city while also supporting efforts to conserve Asiatic lions, the endangered species of big cats.

Incidentally, the Gujarat forest department already runs two safari parks — the Gir Interpretation Zone, popularly known as Devaliya safari park, and the Ambardi Safari Park in Gir (west) and Gir (east) wildlife divisions respectively.