Tiger and leopard habitats, bird aviaries, reptile facilities and tunnel aquariums proposed; PWD issues second-call tender
Ratnagiri: A major zoological park has been proposed at Malgund in Ratnagiri taluka, with the Maharashtra Public Works Department issuing a second-call e-tender estimated at ₹115.43 crore for development of the project. The proposed facility is planned at Malgund, the birthplace of renowned Marathi poet Keshavsut, and is expected to add a new wildlife and tourism attraction to Ratnagiri and the wider Konkan region.
According to the tender information, the project is titled “Special Project Zoo under Malgund Zoological Park, Taluka and District Ratnagiri” and has been floated as a second call by the Public Works Department.
Naturalistic Animal Habitats Proposed
The proposed zoo is expected to include naturalistic enclosures for carnivores such as tigers, leopards, bears and wolves. Separate open habitats are proposed for herbivores including nilgai, blackbuck, spotted deer and sambar. Large bird aviaries and a dedicated reptile facility are also envisaged as part of the project. One of the proposed visitor attractions is a tunnel aquarium featuring marine and freshwater species, designed to provide an immersive viewing experience.
Project Has Been Under Consideration for Several Years
The Malgund zoo proposal has been in the planning pipeline for several years. A Government of India parliamentary reply shows that the proposal for establishment of the Ratnagiri Zoological Park at Malgund was considered by the Central Zoo Authority’s Expert Group on Zoo Designing in December 2022. The present PWD tender marks a further step towards implementation of the project.
Two-Year Construction Timeline Proposed
The construction is proposed to be completed within about two years after award of the contract, subject to completion of the tendering process, statutory permissions and project execution. The facility is expected to strengthen Ratnagiri’s tourism offering by combining wildlife attractions, environmental education and recreational infrastructure.
Given Malgund’s existing cultural significance as Keshavsut’s birthplace and its location in the coastal Konkan belt, the zoological park could add another major visitor destination to the district if the project proceeds as planned.
