Mumbai: Byculla zoo likely to take visitors next week

Penguins are the star attraction at Byculla zoo. File/Ashish Raje

The Byculla zoo, which has been shut since March following the COVID-19 lockdown, will soon be welcoming visitors. The zoo officials said they are expecting less footfall as compared to pre-pandemic times.

The Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo, popularly known as Byculla zoo, is expected to reopen on Monday once the BMC commissioner gives his approval. "The preparation for reopening the zoo has been completed. The physical distancing marks have been made in front of ticket windows, and sanitisers will be made available at several locations inside the zoo. We are now awaiting the BMC's approval," said Dr Sanjay Tripathi, director of the Byculla zoo.

During the pre-pandemic days, the zoo would have around 10,000-12,000 visitors on an average during the weekdays, and the crowd would swell to about 15,000-20,000 on weekends and public holidays. However, the zoo administration at present plans to allow no more than 5,000 visitors throughout a day.

"We are expecting less footfall on initial days of the reopening. The number of visitors will be restricted on an hourly basis, and entry of more will depend on the number of people inside the zoo," said an official at the zoo. If the number increases the set limit, further entry will be denied, the official added.

Since shutting down on March 22 last year, the zoo has suffered a loss of R5 crore. The zoo would make about R1.5 lakh a day on the sale of tickets, which cost R100 per person.