Barang: The ropeway ride at Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) here is likely to be revived soon after an eight-year-long hiatus.
Khurda district administration and State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) Friday conducted a public hearing of all stakeholders to revive the ropeway facility at the zoo.
It is worth mentioning that the ropeway connecting NZP and the nearby Botanical Garden was a point of attraction for visitors, a few years ago. However, the facility was shut down in 2010 after a series of minor mishaps.
The zoo authorities have engaged Kolkata-based private entity Damodar Ropeway and Infra Limited through an open tender to restore the ropeway.
Participating in the public hearing, many locals and NZP officials supported the move to get the ropeway going again.
“We conducted the public hearing to provide environmental clearance to the project. All stakeholders have given their approval,” said an official of the district administration.
It is learnt that the private entity will install an altogether new ropeway system at a cost of around Rs 8 crore. “There will be 12 buggies in the ropeway to carry 48 people at a time. At least 400 visitors can enjoy the facility in an hour. We will charge Rs 60 each from visitors,” said Damodar Ropeway project manager Hrudanand Nayak.
According to sources, the private entity will provide insurance cover for people travelling on the ropeway in the event of any mishap.
“The insurance company will provide Rs 5 lakh each for death and Rs 2 lakh each for injuries,” Nayak added.