Nandankanan Zoo Generates Rs 1.77 Cr Monthly Revenue: Minister

Bhubaneswar: The Nandankanan Zoological Park generates an average monthly revenue of Rs 1.77 crore from providing various services and activities.

This has been informed by Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia in the Assembly while replying to a question of Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati.

The Nandankanan Zoological Park, which is situated in Bhubaneswar, employs a total of 6 persons in ‘A’ category, 5 in ‘B’ category, 35 in ‘C’ category, and 106 in ‘D’ category. Together, the salaries of these employees amount to an average of Rs. 64.17 lakh per month, the Minister said.

He further said that 399 personnel from external agencies, 35 from the Odisha Industrial Security Force, 15 retired army personnel, and 40 from the Department of Land Resources (DLR) have been deployed at both the Nandankanan Zoological Park and the State Botanical Garden. The combined expenditure on their salaries is approximately one crore rupees every month.

The Zoological Park generates its monthly revenue of 1.77 crore rupees from sources including the sale of tourist entry tickets, safaris, battery-operated vehicles, ropeways, children’s trains, boat rides, multi-vehicle accommodation, restaurants, souvenir shops, and ATM counter fees. The monthly expenditure at the park averages around 1.69 crore rupees, the Minister added.