Rajgir Zoo Safari admin gears up for crowd control during Malmas Mela

Bihar Sharif: The Rajgir Zoo Safari management has begun preparations to tackle crowd management challenges during the month-long Malmas Mela starting May 17.

A high-level review meeting was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Rajgir Zoo Safari director Ram Sundar M, focusing and ensuring the safe and orderly conduct of the fair. Thousands of devotees visit the mela daily from across the district and neighbouring areas, making crowd control a key concern.

The director said that officials had been directed to strengthen barricading in and around the campus, increase the number of ticket counters, and streamline entry and exit points to handle the expected surge in footfall. “Measures are also being taken to ensure an uninterrupted drinking water supply, improve parking arrangements, and enhance visitor facilities,” he added.

The zoo campus will be placed under enhanced CCTV surveillance. Multilingual signage and information centres will be set up to assist visitors. Authorities also stressed maintaining smooth traffic flow, cleanliness, and an effective solid waste management system during the mela.

The Malmas Mela, observed during the Adhik Maas period as per the Hindu calendar, holds significant religious importance and draws large numbers of pilgrims to Rajgir for rituals, prayers, and charity.

Inaugurated in 2022, the zoo safari has emerged as a major tourist attraction in the region. It houses over 250 animals, including Royal Bengal tigers, Asiatic lions, leopards, and sloth bears, along with herbivores such as chital, sambar, blackbuck, barking deer, and wild boar, besides several bird species.

The safari recently gained national attention after a 12-minute animation film based on it, The Wild Call, won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2026. The film was directed by Navinath S, Farid, and Azharuddin.
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