Will check if existing building can be used for penguin park: Zoo official

Time of India

2 days ago

Mysuru: The proposed penguin park, which was suggested after shelving a 15-year-old aquarium project at Mysuru zoo, is likely to be another tourist attraction in the city.
After the efforts of the zoo authorities were unsuccessful in securing funds for the aquarium project and convincing the tourism department to take the project forward, it was decided to abandon it.
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Now, there is a fresh proposal to establish a penguin park on the lines of Mumbai and Ahmedabad under the PPP model. And, this project requires approximately Rs 70 crore.
Mysuru zoo executive director KN Rangaswamy said that the penguin park project is still in the preliminary stage. The proposal will be submitted after a feasibility study, he stated. The structural stability of the existing defunct building constructed for the aquarium project, where the Penguin Park is planned, will also be studied, he explained.
Dead-end project
However, tourism stakeholders see it as another possible dead-end project, suggesting that the govt provide facilities for tourists instead of making fresh proposals. Many projects have reached a dead end without serving the purpose, and the latest was the aquarium project. The building was constructed after spending crores of rupees, and now the govt is trying to use the defunct building, which requires huge amount of funds.
Stakeholders claimed netas lack vision for tourism development in Mysuru, which receives over 4 million visitors annually.
SKAL International, Mysuru chapter, president CA Jayakumar said a well-defined vision, coupled with measurable goals, ensures projects stay on track. The govt should focus on delivering value, he added.
Meanwhile, KV Rajendra, director of Karnataka Tourism, said the Eco Experience Zone (EEZ) project aims to provide tourists with a better Mysuru experience. Under the Eco Experience Zone initiative, all three popular tourist spots–Mysuru Zoo, Karanji Lake, and Regional Museum of Natural History—situated adjacent to each other, will offer visitors single-entry access for a full day of nature-based activities.
The tender process will be floated soon, he said.