Picturesque Ghorabandha Theme Park in Telco, Jamshedpur, will soon boast the state's first suspension or hanging bridge, on the lines of Lakshman Jhula in Rishikesh, and an amphitheatre, the ambitious twin projects aimed to promote eco-tourism and green conservation.

According to Saba Alam Ansari, divisional forest officer (Jamshedpur), work is on for both the novelties. "The suspension bridge, which will have no pillars, and the amphitheatre are likely to be ready in another month or so," he told The Telegraph on Friday.

The state government has already sanctioned Rs 1 crore for executing the two projects, apart from other infrastructure development, at the green park, located some 8km away from the heart of the steel city and 300-feet above sea level.

While the proposed bridge will take visitors on a walk through the scenic 92-acre park, the open-air theatre will serve as a centre of entertainment and education with special emphasis on environment.

"It will be a unique and one-of-its-kind bridge in the state. Visitors will be able to walk 200ft on the bridge, hanging around 50ft above the ground, and enjoy a wide-angle view of the breathtaking greenery," said a forest official.

The open-air theatre, on the other hand, will be used for organising awareness programmes on nature and wildlife.

"Plays, nataks and other cultural programmes will be organised at regular intervals for creating awareness among students and other visitors on nature conservation," the forest official added.

Developed as an eco-sensitive zone over a decade ago, the scenic park came up with a hill top fountain and a cascade - a series of small waterfalls over steep rocks - recently to attract more tourists. An artificial waterfall is likely to be thrown open for visitors shortly.

Further, forest department sources have revealed, members of a local village forest committee have been assigned the job of running a cafeteria, which will start functioning in a full-fledged manner from next month.

With the addition of new attractions and expected increase in footfall, the department has decided to beef up security apparatus for the park. "Apart from personnel of East Singhbhum district police, daily wage workers will also be deployed at the park soon for security and maintenance of the park," said another forest official.

The theme park - the venue of East Singhbhum district's main plantation programme on July 18 - created a green record with 26,395 saplings, more than its earlier target of 25,000.

People from various sections of society, including students, actively participated in the plantation drive.

A.K. Srivastava, a resident of Ghorabandha, welcomed the upcoming projects.

"If the department properly executes them, tourist footfall to the park will certainly increase," he added.