Ranchi, Aug. 20: For snake-lovers, visits to the Ranchi zoo would be more charming. For, a snake house is in the pipeline.

Officials said the construction of the snake house was almost complete and the new addition would be opened for public viewing in a month and a half. The total cost of the project is pegged at Rs 35 lakh.

Claimed to be one of the largest of its kind in northern India, the 15 glass-chambered snake house would showcase cobras, rat snakes, tree snakes, double- mouth snakes and vipers along with other special varieties.

Ranchi zoo director Deepak Singh said: “We have got the approval from the central zoo authorities and the snake house will be ready for public viewing soon.”

Singh added that negotiations were on with officials from Bengal and Delhi for bringing in snakes.

“Adequate arrangements have been made for the comfort of the reptiles in the thickly-constructed chambers both in summer and winter months,” Singh said.

Significantly, each chamber will display boards containing information on snakes. “This is especially being done to educate visitors who are unaware of the characteristic features of these snakes,” the director added.

“Last year, 4,000 people had visited the zoo on Independence Day. This year, we had around 8,000 visitors. Hopefully, the count will increase after the snake house opens,” Singh added.

An addition has been made to the bird section of the zoo also with the arrival of the Golden Peasant, a Chinese bird, considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world.