Nothing feels more heavenly than a relaxing pedicure after a long walk or a tiring day and who wouldn't want one that comes for free.

Scores of men, women and children are making a beeline for the newly opened Oxygen Park in Morabadi, Ranchi, not just to breathe in fresh air or unwind with workout, their biggest draw are shoals of small fish that are extending foot massage round the clock.

On any given day, 60-70 people - from morning walkers and joggers to children and college students - can be seen soaking their feet in the park's two rectangular ponds, one 375sqm in dimensions and the other 150sqm. Many keep coming back because they claim to have found an effective cure for cracked heels.

Spread over 11 acres of wasteland, the Oxygen Park was developed by the state forest department for Rs 4 crore and inaugurated by chief minister Raghubar Das on March 29. It has acupressure walking trails, a volleyball court, a cricket net and now the spa ponds.

Divisional forest officer Rajiv Lochan Bakshi couldn't name the fries released in the pond recently. "I heard people are having a relaxing time. These are small fish and have no teeth; so they can't bite. I will find out its name and other details," he said.

A salon fish pedicure normally uses the Garra rufa species, which has earned the sobriquet of doctor fish for its ability to eat away dead skin on people's feet, exposing newer skin. The Garra rufa is native to West Asia, where they have also been used in medical treatment for individuals with skin diseases.

However, several states in the US have banned fish pedicure. Reasons are many. Fish tubs cannot be sufficiently cleaned between customers. The fish themselves cannot be disinfected or sanitised.

Again, owing to the cost of the doctor fish, salon owners are likely to use the same shoal a multiple times, increasing the risk of infection. A Chinese species is often mislabelled as Garra rufa, but it grows teeth and can draw blood. Above all, fish spa does not meet the legal definition of a pedicure in the US.

Residents of Morabadi and its neighbourhood are, however, making the most of it.

Kiran Sinha said she had been a regular for the pond therapy for a week now. "After an hour's walk and exercises, I sit with my legs dipped in the waters. The soreness of my heels is gone - seems like a miracle!" the 50-something said, adding that soon people would have to wait in queue for this free fish spa.

Ashok Sharma, a 48-year-old businessman from Morabadi and a fitness regular, turned up for his first pedicure on Monday. "I usually jog and exercise at Dada-Dadi Park. A friend told me about the fish massage last (Sunday) night and here I am to try it," he said.

And, how was his experience? "Great! It was a tickling feeling that made me laugh a lot. So, it was both fish spa and laughter therapy. I sat for 15 minutes and didn't want to leave," Sharma added.

Students Shruti and Kavya, first-timers at the park, couldn't stop clicking selfies. "A free foot massage - who would have thought of that!" chuckled Kavya, a student of Ranchi Women's College.