Toy train soon at Siliguri park ..Toy train ride for visitors at the Bengal Safari Park

BIRESWAR BANERJEE, TT, 06 Mar 2019, Siliguri: The state forest department will introduce a Toy train ride for visitors at the Bengal Safari Park, state forest minister Binay Krishna Burman said here on Tuesday.

The project estimated at around Rs 1 crore will be executed in association with the state tourism department and the NB development department.

"We have already introduced tiger, leopard, Asiatic black bear and herbivore safaris at the park in the first phase. In the second phase, we have decided to introduce a Toy Train ride for visitors. Experts have been engaged to prepare a detail project report," said Burman.

Burman, state tourism minister Gautam Deb and Rabindranath Ghosh were at the park on Tuesday to inaugurate a Nature Interpretation Centre (NIC) and a watchtower for visitors. "At the park, we can accommodate around five rhinos in the concerned enclosure. At present, there is one rhino at the park. We will soon bring in some more rhinos," added the minister.

The new infrastructure ­ NIC and watchtower -- has been built with a fund of Rs 3 crore, Burman said.

At the NIC, ethnic culture of different communities of north Bengal has been showcased with light and sound effects. Also, the biodiversity of the region has been exhibited at the centre.

"People can learn about the cultural heritage, the varied flora and fauna of the region. We are planning to develop an aquarium and engage two more pet elephants to let more visitors enjoy the elephant ride," said Deb.

The new watchtower has been named as a "break-point" tower. It will provide a view of the Gulma river and the forest stretches to visitors.

"Till February 20, the park recorded footfall of around 2.55 lakh visitors and tickets worth Rs 3.20 crore were sold," said a source.

Leopards released State forest minister Binay Krishna Burman released two leopards in an enclosure at the mini zoo at Rasikbil in Cooch Behar on Tuesday. He said around Rs 6 crore was allotted for development of the zoo, which was opened in 2005.

Additional reporting by Our Cooch Behar correspondent.