Coimbatore Corporation Revises Bird Park Project, Slashes Costs
The Coimbatore Corporation has taken a significant step forward with its plans for a new birds park. Officials have revised the detailed project report for establishing this aviary on the land of the VOC Zoo. This revision focuses heavily on retaining and repurposing the existing structures from the closed zoo, including the old bird cages.
Cost Reduction Through Smart Reuse
Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran announced the financial benefits of this new approach. The initial project was designed with an estimated cost of Rs 10 crores. The revised DPR brings this figure down substantially to between Rs 6 and 7 crores.
"We have instructed the team to retain the maximum structures and make only necessary modifications," Prabakaran stated clearly.
Private Partnership and Project Timeline
The corporation has engaged a private team with proven experience. This is the same team that successfully executed the aviary in Trichy. The project will move forward under a public-private partnership model.
Officials expect to finalize the revised detailed project report by the end of this month. This marks a concrete timeline for a project that has seen considerable delays.
Park Specifications and Historical Context
The planned aviary will occupy 4.5 acres of land. It is designed to accommodate nearly 1,000 birds representing around 40 different species. This scale promises a major new attraction for the city.
The journey to this point has not been smooth. An official source revealed that the plan for an aviary in Coimbatore was first proposed in January 2023. It then faced a series of setbacks, largely due to various political reasons.
In a contrasting story of execution, the Trichy Birds Park was proposed after Coimbatore's plan. Yet it was successfully completed at a cost of Rs 18.63 crore in almost a year. The Trichy park has now been open to the public for nearly a year, while Coimbatore's project remained only on paper.
Budget Allocation and Project Revival
The corporation's 2024-25 financial budget included an allocation of Rs 75 lakh. This money was intended to convert the zoo land into an open reading space. However, Commissioner Prabakaran has chosen a different path. He has actively pushed to revive the aviary project, leading directly to this revised DPR.
The focus on reusing existing structures demonstrates a practical and cost-conscious strategy. It aims to deliver a public amenity while being fiscally responsible. The city now awaits the finalization of plans and the start of construction for its long-awaited birds park.
