The state-owned Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park in Ormanjhi on Ranchi's outskirts is getting ready to accord a grand welcome to visitors.

A gate plaza, comprising a VIP lounge, a cafeteria, a theatre room and waiting arena among other facilities, is being planned at the park located around 20km from the city, an initiative that has long been prodded by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and will eventually help the park get the "large zoo" status.

According to sources, following a couple of rounds of meetings and in-principal agreements from higher-ups in the state forest department, the zoo authorities are now gearing up to float expression of interest (EOI) for the project that is estimated to cost about a crore.

Zoo director A.K. Patra said: "Once the groundwork is over, we will float the EOI to get a proposal on the design."

The plaza, apart from hosting a slew of visitor-friendly amenities, will revamp the existing entrance to the zoo that officials described as "uninteresting" and "congested".

Also, the CZA, the country's apex body which oversees all zoos, had long been asking the city-based facility to upgrade its entrance.

"There have been several reminders from CZA in this regard, but no one took it seriously until now. But the gate plaza project has now assumed priority. In another 10 days, EOI is likely to be floated to choose suitable consultants for preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) after which contractors will be roped in for civil works," said an official at the forest department headquarters, adding that the EOI would be of global nature.

According to the initial plan, besides entry points, the plaza will have a VIP lounge, permanent shed and sitting room for general visitors, a mini theatre room for screening awareness videos of three to four minutes on nature, wildlife conservation, cafeteria, organised ticket counters etc.

"The final outlay will be known after the DPR," the official added.

Another official explained why a proper gate was the need of the hour for the Birsa zoo.

"Currently, Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park falls in the medium category. But it is aspiring to get into the large zoo category. Only six-seven zoos across the country qualify for this group. So, if Ranchi zoo manages to clinch that position, it will boost its prospects internationally. For example, for animal exchange programmes, international zoos prefer to strike a deal with large category zoos. Also, it will improve central funding to a large extent," he said.