TIRUPATI: Forest department officials have got more than 80 per cent of the work on the park in Tirupati done and are planning to open it shortly. Authorities say that its launch would be by the end of the month. Divya Ramam adjacent to the existing Jungle Book (forest park near Kapilteertham) has been developed with an investment of around Rs 2 crore under Nagara Vanam project. It is all set to present a new experience and feeling to citizens with the arrangements made by the forest department.
A cafeteria which will be run by Vana Samrakshana Samithi members is being setup in a French style with organic and healthy morning meals and beverages. Officials plan to setup products like Araku Coffee and other products certified by the forest department and sold through Girija Cooperative Corporation.
The children play area, landscapes and rose garden are completed and they are working on planting Rasi Vanam (plants that refer astrological signs) and medicinal garden. Authorities have designed ‘an education route’ to Divya Ramam where they have displaying information about birds and plants. Connecting the Jungle Book and Divya Ramam is a canopy walk.
Morning walkers in this forest park can also experience trekking, where three mini trekking paths have been prepared. People from Tirupati often go to Jungle Book for bird watching as there are more than 25 species of birds. The granite monoliths sculptures of animals make the visitors wonder if these sculptures are made and brought from Chennai.
Speaking to DC, divisional forest officer Tirupati D. Phani Kumar Naidu said, “We will be opening the forest park soon after completing the pending works. We are done with 80 per cent of the works. Keeping the avians in mind, we have arranged more than 200 bird nests in the park. Apart from all these, there will be boating soon in the forest park in the near future. Very soon, citizens can experience a well developed forest park in Tirupati.”
