Kayaking, balloon ride at Eco Park

KOLKATA: Kayaking and hot air balloon rides may soon become a regular feature at Eco Park in Rajarhat New Town.
Keeping in mind the huge footfall and requests to further expand the park's entertainment quotient, the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco) has decided to allow fun activities like kayaking and hot air balloon rides within the park premises.These will be conducted by private organizations on a revenue sharing basis.
Besides, the authorities are also in the process of identifying a spot inside Eco Park where a biodiversity centre can come up, as proposed by the West Bengal Biodiversity Board.
Hidco chairman cum managing director Debashis Sen said the authorities have been receiving requests from some organizations which are keen on carrying out entertainment activities in the park. "Following the proposals, we decided to allow such activities inside the park and have come up with a revenue sharing model for its operation," Sen said, adding that shikaras and paddle boats were introduced in the water park at Eco Park for visitors.
Sprucing up Eco Park with new attractions has been on the agenda of the authorities ever since it was thrown open to public last year. Some days back, West Bengal Biodiversity Board chairman Asok Kanti Sanyal met Sen to discuss the proposal of setting up a biodiversity interpretation centre to make people aware of the state's biodiversity.
While Sen confirmed the move, Hidco authorities said they were working on the process to earmark land for the centre.
Some days back the West Bengal Biodiversity Board came up with a proposal to set up a bio-diversity interpretation centre inside the eco park. Board chairman Asok Kanti Sanyal met Hidco CMD Debashis Sen to discuss on the proposal. As part of their plans, the bio diversity board will set up a bio-diversity park or a biodiversity interpretation centre inside eco park to generate awareness among the people on the state's biodiversity and its resources. "We had a discussion on the proposals. A bio diversity park will come up," Sen said. Hidco authorities were working on the process to earmark some land for the bio diversity centre to be set up inside eco park.
The authorities earlier decided to develop the infrastructural facilities of the park by having a number of exits and entry gates with car parking and ticket kiosks. The authorities also decided to install CCTVs, to set up additional food and toilet facilities and to set up signages at different points for the convenience of visitors. Also, standby lighting arrangements including emergency torches inside the park was also decided to be installed.