After #GreaterNoida, #Delhi also makes plans for an ambitious night safari

Plans to develop a night safari in Greater Noida along the lines of what has been done in Singapore might not have materialized yet, but this hasn’t deterred Delhi government officials from wanting to emulate this ambitious plan. The latest project in a long list of plans to revive tourism in the capital, is by starting a night safari in Delhi on the lines of the Greater Noida night safari.

Officials are tight-lipped about the possible location of the Delhi night safari and other attractions that will be part of it. A Delhi Tourism official told us, “We are trying to figure out the possibilities, but it is part of the official list of plans to attract more tourists to Delhi as well as increase the duration of their stay here. We will develop the Delhi night safari on the lines of the Greater Noida night safari plan.”

While the Greater Noida night safari has been in the planning stage for the last 11 years, an approximate date hasn’t been decided for launching the Delhi night safari as yet.

The Greater Noida night safari plan might also provide an insight into what the Delhi night safari might be like. The night safari at Greater Noida claims to be the first of its kind in India, with a budget of Rs 700 crore. It is to be developed on 250 acres of land on the Yamuna Expressway and is projected to be ready by 2017. The project has been conceptualized as a night zoo and family entertainment destination, which would include a night safari, bird park and an entertainment zone.

So where will Delhi’s Night Safari be located? At the delhi Zoo?

While officials did not provide any information on where this night safari will be located, they did tell us about a revamping of the Delhi zoo. An official from the tourism department told us that this is being done in an attempt to improve tourism in the city. He said, “We are considering a complete makeover of the zoo, but at this stage we can’t reveal details. It will be an interactive model in a jungle-like setting, with thousands of animals in their natural habitat and with shows using trained animals. Visitors would be able to see species in their natural state.