There is good news for parents and children in Chennai as the Tamil Nadu Government has decided to upgrade the Guindy Children’s Park from a mini to a medium category zoo.

For upgrading the Park, a sum of Rs.20 crore has been sanctioned by the State Government.

A large part of the sanctioned amount — Rs.15.74 crore — will be spent on making changes in the animal enclosures, on footpath, library, landscape, upscaled parking facility and cafeteria. This was stated in the Government Order issued by Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Environment and Forest Department.

Among the improvements planned includes a new ticketing system. This will ensure that visitors can book their tickets online or swipe their cards or use their mobile phones to scan the QR codes to do the same. This will free parents from the hassle of waiting outside the park with children for entry.

Sahu told the media that rebuilding of enclosures will be given a priority while a modern cafeteria will be set up to provide snacks and beverages to the visitors.

The whole focus of the redevelopment is to provide more amenities, Sahu informed. In keeping with this view, a library with books and DVDs on wildlife and improvements to the play area for children has been planned.

E. Prasant told the press that Park has 32 enclosures housing a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and an aviary. Among the 32, eight were renovated four years while other enclosures were repaired a decade ago.

Now, steel barricades will be placed for the safety of the animals and visitors.

All this will bring about an improvement in the natural conditions of the park which will make the stay of the animals more conducive.

The auditorium in the Park will be upgraded and regular programmes will be held for children on wildlife awareness.

The park is spread over 22 acres and is a major attraction of the city. It has a footfall of 9 lakhs per year and it conducts a basic zoo exposure programme which is very popular with children and schools.