Bhubaneswar: Nandankanan zoo authorities are hopeful that the toy train service would resume in August, an official said.

The service was suspended in 2014 after the authorities decided to replace the narrow gauge track with a broad gauge one.

A zoo official said RITES Ltd, a central government enterprise, under the aegis of Indian Railways, which had been entrusted with the job to overhaul the toy train service, has been asked to expedite the process.

"Renovation of the engine and five bogeys are on in full swing. We hope to resume the service by August," said a zoo official.

The toy train, which started operating in 1985 on a 1.6km track, used to take 60 visitors for a 20-minmute ride. The toy train was one among the major tourist destinations at the zoo and used to attract around 1.5 lakh tourists every year. A tourist had to pay Rs 10 for a single ride.

Deputy zoo director Jayant Dash said both toy train and ropeway services had been listed as top priority for the coming financial year.

"Both the services are important as these will attract tourists. We have been constantly monitoring the progress of both the facilities. The ropeway facility is likely to start from December," said Dash.

The ropeway service was suspended in February 2011 for safety reasons. More than 13,000 visitors took the ropeway over the Kanjia lake every year. Calcutta-based Damodar Ropeways and Infra Ltd has been entrusted with the job of installing of the ropeway. A zoo official said that the cable and cars would be completely new and the ropeway would run on a 627-meters route.