Jamshedpur: The main entry gate to Tata Steel Zoological Park in Bistupur will eventually be shut for visitors.

A new entry gate will come up near the laser fountain, behind the district collectorate, at Jubilee Park by the year-end as part of a master plan to be implemented in phases by Tata Steel. A dedicated parking bay, food plaza and a baby care unit are also expected to come up near the new entry gate.

The baby care unit will help mothers feed their children. The room will be equipped with an attached toilet, seating facilities and first-aid equipment.

Sources in the zoo said animal enclosures would also be made big as per the guidelines of Central Zoo Authority (CZA). The plan will be executed by Jusco.

Visitors currently take the Jayanti Sarovar road, which bends towards the zoo gate. "The new entry gate will come up at the opposite end of the present gate. The area of Tata zoo will be expanded to facilitate construction of the new gate and set up big animal enclosures," said a zoo official.

The present area of the Tata zoo is 37 hectares and an additional three hectares is expected to be added to it. "The master project will be implemented in phases. The blueprint has already been prepared," he added.

According to the zoo official, a new road will be constructed to facilitate entry of visitors from the new gate. "The new road will be built near the Sakchi-end of Jubilee Park. "The new stretch will branch out from the Jubilee Park main road and snake along the laser fountain," the official informed.

Tata Steel spokesperson Amresh Sinha, who is also a member of Tata Steel Zoological Society, said, "We are working on further enhancing the zoo facilities."