BMC to do away with fancy structures

With municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar downsizing the budget for the Byculla zoo makeover, the civic body has been forced to go back to the drawing board and do away with fancy elements, including the depicting of different subcontinents, glass enclosures and the cheetah restaurant.

With municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar downsizing the budget for the Byculla zoo makeover, the civic body has been forced to go back to the drawing board and do away with fancy elements, including the depicting of different subcontinents, glass enclosures and the cheetah restaurant.

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The budget has been cut down to Rs150 crore as against the Rs480 crore. In the new plan, the aim is to keep the existing framework of the zoo and to improve the conditions inside the enclosures.

The heritage committee had earlier raised objections and asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to keep the makeover to a bare minimum.

“We plan to spilt the funds between the zoo and the reptile and bird centre in Powai,” said Aseem Gupta, additional municipal commissioner, adding that the fancy architecture would be saved for the park in Powai.

“The plan of having glass enclosures around animals is being reconsidered. We are contemplating changing the design of the moths inside the enclosures to make them spacious,” he said.

The BMC plans to spend Rs12 crore to conserve the heritage structures inside the zoo. Tenders for upgrading the medical building and the underground parking lot will be invited soon.