Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Safari Park Faces Prolonged Delays Amid Public Frustration
The ambitious Safari Park project in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, envisioned as a combined zoo and garden under the Smart City Mission, continues to lag far behind schedule despite numerous missed deadlines. Originally slated for completion approximately three years ago, the initiative has been advancing at a sluggish pace, drawing sharp criticism from local residents and animal welfare advocates.
Project Details and Citizen Reactions
Spanning an expansive 150 acres with an estimated budget of Rs 230 crore, the Safari Park is intended to replace the existing zoo managed by the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC). However, the prolonged delays have left many citizens exasperated. Pooja Dharashivkar, a homemaker, highlighted that the Safari Park consistently ranks at the top of public projects in the city that have failed to meet multiple timelines.
"We have been hearing for the past three years that authorities keep setting new deadlines for the Safari Park project. They are not doing any favor for citizens but merely utilizing taxpayers' money to build a public facility," she remarked, echoing widespread discontent.
Animal Welfare Concerns and Historical Context
Animal rights activists have raised alarms over the slow progress, noting that it exacerbates the plight of wild animals still housed in the current zoo's cramped and inadequate habitats. Conservationist Kishor Pathak pointed out that the Central Zoo Authority of India had ordered the closure of the existing zoo in 2018 due to serious lapses, but the civic administration assured a swift relocation to the new Safari Park.
"Housing wild animals in the existing zoo constitutes a severe form of cruelty towards these wildlife creatures," Pathak emphasized, underscoring the urgency of completing the project to improve animal welfare standards.
Official Updates and Remaining Work
When contacted, Imran Khan, the project manager for the Smart City Mission, provided an update on the Safari Park's status. He stated that over 95% of the civic infrastructure, including animal enclosures, roads, pathways, drainage, and water lines, has been completed.
"Only plantation work is pending, which is receiving finishing touches. We anticipate the facility will be ready before the monsoon season. The decision for its formal inauguration will rest with the civic administration," Khan explained, offering a glimmer of hope for the project's eventual completion.
Despite these assurances, the ongoing delays continue to fuel public anger and highlight broader issues in urban development projects under the Smart City Mission, with calls for greater accountability and expedited action to benefit both the community and animal inhabitants.
