Worldwide attempts are being made to make zoos attractive destinations for tourists and locals, especially children. Keeping in tune with this, Odisha’s popular Nandankanan Zoological Park has added a brand new attraction – an eco-friendly toy train – to its other facilities.

The Park is located in Odisha’s capital Bhubaneswar.

The battery-operated toy train was flagged off by the Odisha’s Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha last week.

Besides this, Arukha also laid the foundation stone for a ropeway, which is said to be an attraction for people who are looking for an adrenaline rush. To make the ropeway, the state-of-the-art technology will be used and it is bound to provide the visitors a picturesque view of the place.

Toy train 🚆 for visitors was launched and foundation laid for the mono cable pulsated aerial ropeway in Nandankanan Zoological Park near Bhubaneswar on the occasion of celebration of 67th Wildlife Week. @DDNewslive @PIBBhubaneswar @ROB_Bhubaneswar pic.twitter.com/cWZaSAB97a

— DD News Odia (ଡ଼ିଡ଼ି ନ୍ୟୁଜ ଓଡିଆ) (@DDOdiaNews) October 8, 2021

Addressing the media during the event, the Deputy Director of the Nandankanan Zoological Park, Sanjeet Kumar told them that since the toy train will run on the batteries, hence, they are referring to it as “eco-friendly”. The toy train will have five coaches, comprising 72 seats, in addition to the two wheelchairs for any specially-abled people.

The distance that will be covered by the train is 1.65 kilometres and the authorities concerned expect that it will run six times in a day. To make this attractive facilities accessible for everyone, the Zoo authorities have kept the ticket rates reasonable. For children it is Rs.20 while for the adults it is Rs.50.

Discussing about the ropeway, Kumar shared details and disclosed that the estimated cost in installing it will be around Rs.13 crore. The project is expected to be completed in the next 18 months. The ropeway will have 12 cabins and it will move without any pillar support. The Deputy Director also told the media that the ropeway will cross a lake between the zoological park and Botanical Garden and from the lake it will be at a maximum height of 36 meters, This will provide the visitors a scenic bird’s eye view of the entire area.

Established in 1979, the Nandankanan Zoological Park is home to several animals, including the famous Bengal tigers.

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