New Down City restaurant at Patna zoo. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

On the next visit to Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, Patna, in the New Year, get ready to tingle your taste buds with a mind-boggling array of snacks and beverages.

On Monday, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi would inaugurate a restaurant beside the old lake at the zoo and a Sudha Dairy outlet on the park premises.

The zoo, usually closed on Mondays, would be open for revellers on New Year’s Eve.

Zoo director Abhay Kumar said: “New Down City Restaurant and Sudha Dairy outlets would be inaugurated tomorrow as New Year gifts to the visitors. The restaurant has an indoor sitting area and also an open-air terrace. The deputy chief minister would unveil a 30m jetty at the old lake.”

The two-storeyed restaurant has been developed by renovating the old canteen. The ground floor would have food counters for snacks, beverages, ice cream, south Indian and Chinese cuisines, while the first floor air-conditioned restaurant would have 200 covers.

“The restaurant would serve only vegetarian items made using Agmark-certified raw materials. Use of polythene and plastic would be prohibited and only eco-friendly materials would be used in the operations. There would not be any music at these counters,” said Kumar. “Boating facilities would be enhanced. Three two-seater and five four-seater pedal boats with adjustable lounging seats, life jackets and other safety accessories are likely to arrive in January,” he added.