Patna: The Jai Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna will be expanded soon, and for that, a large part of the nearby Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, also known as Patna Zoo, will be taken over. This decision comes after a recent Air India plane accident in Ahmedabad, which has led to fresh concerns about airport safety across India. As part of the plan, zoo areas like the lake, aquarium, crocodile cage, and some offices will be removed. Officials say over 500 old trees will be cut down, and many more will be trimmed.
On Wednesday, officers from Patna Sadar and the airport inspected the area and took measurements. A part of the zoo, 500 metres wide and 300 metres long, has been marked for expansion. Some zoo paths and a jungle trail will be lost. The boundary wall near the giraffe cage and a large part of the lake will be removed. Roads leading to key areas like Raj Bhawan and the Veterinary College will now be inside the airport’s boundary. Gate number two of the zoo may also be closed.
To make up for the lost land, officials say space will be given near the golf club. Also, the Airport Authority will get 100 acres in Bihta. A meeting led by Divisional Commissioner Dr Chandrashekhar Singh was held to discuss the plan. Once finalised, the proposal will be sent to the Central Zoo Authority. The final approval will come from both the central and Bihar governments.
The last time airport expansion was seriously discussed was in 2000, after a plane crash in Patna’s Gardanibagh area. Those plans were shelved. But now, after the Ahmedabad incident, the expansion work has picked up speed once again, even though it means Patna will lose part of its beloved zoo.
