International designer for India’s first night safari

GREATER NOIDA - Renowned zoo designer Bernard Harrison, who has designed the famous Singapore night safari, will be designing the upcoming Greater Noida night safari, according to an official.

The Greater Noida night safari will be Indias first and the worlds fourth - the others being in Singapore, China and Thailand.

According to a Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority official, who didnt wish to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media, Harrison had recently met officials to discuss the project. He is expected to arrive in India next week to present the digital project report (DPR) to officials.

The night safari, to be set up on over 222 hectares of land, will be located along the Yamuna Expressway near Gautam Budh University, around 40 km from New Delhi. The zoo will have animals like leopards, tigers, crocodiles, gibbons and crocodiles. Only lions will be brought from Africa.

It will also have casinos and restaurants to attract visitors. The land for the project has been acquired, the official informed.

Asked about the cost of the project, the official said, “Currently, Bernard Harrison is preparing the Digital Project Report (DPR), once that is ready the cost will be known.”

The proposed night safari has been granted permission by the Central Zoo Authority and the Supreme Court.

(Sanjay Nirala can be contacted at sknirala@yahoo.com)