Free entry for children soon at Guindy park

Staff Reporter

— File photo

FEE TO GO: The entrance to the Children's Park at Guindy in Chennai.

CHENNAI: Entry for children below 12 years at Children's Park will become free soon, Forest Minister N. Selvaraj announced in the Assembly on Wednesday.

Wildlife authorities said there was a steady increase in the number of visitors, particularly children, to the park. In 2004-05, a total of 2.57 lakh children visited the park; the next year it was 3.26 lakh children. In the last financial year, the number reached 3.33 lakh.

At present, the park collects a fee of Re. 1 per child.

A night safari and a butterfly park would be added to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur here.

Replying to the debate on demands for grants to his Ministry, Mr. Selvaraj said the Vandalur Zoological Park was ideally suited for night safari due to its strategic location.

A detailed project report was under preparation and the execution would be taken up in the current financial year itself. The proposed butterfly park would enable tourists to see a variety of species in one place.

There were 1,500 butterfly species in India and about 300 in Tamil Nadu.

A facility would be created to exhibit them in their natural environment, the Minister added.

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Date:03/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/03/stories/2007050304160100.htm