Ranchi: A much-touted plan to set up a dinosaur theme park in Ranchi, revived in January after it was thought of some eight years ago, is still staring at uncertainty.

It is anybody's guess when children can hope to cycle around and elders take a stroll around the park that is supposed to come up near the biodiversity park at Tupudana on Ranchi Ring Road. The forest department has worked out elaborate plans that include life-size models of Jurassic age creatures set amid food kiosks, landscaped gardens and waterfalls.

Ranchi divisional forest officer Rajiv Lochan Bakshi claimed that a plan worth Rs 1 crore was ready. But, he couldn't say when it would be implemented since both the plan and funds were yet to be approved.

"Things are under process. A plan worth around Rs 1.6 crore has been readied and it was sent for approval a few weeks back," he said, adding that he wasn't sure whether the project would be taken up this year or in the next.

Bakshi said things would get clearer once the funds for the proposal were approved. "We are serious about this project but when it will be executed depends on the nature of sanctions," he clarified.

Nature lovers and park regulars aren't surprised by the delay.

Kishore Sinha, a retired government employee and resident of Doranda, said forest department plans seldom saw the light of day.

"Few years back, a safari near Birsa zoo was spoken of. Few rounds of tenders were floated and a detailed project report made out. But thing went into cold storage later," he said.

Similarly, the forest department also planned to set up a rock garden at Tonko on Ranchi's outskirts.

"It made a few headlines but no one knows anything about it today. Four years back, a plan was announced to set up a Smriti Van at Tupudana where citizens could plant saplings for a one-time. This, too, hasn't worked out," he rued.