Bengaluru, June 18: The Karnataka Zoo Authority has approved the proposal to build South India’s largest aquarium at the Bannerghatta Biological Park.
The file is awaiting the approval of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also in-charge of the Ministry of Forests, Environment and Environmental Sciences.
BBP has proposed to set up the aquarium at a cost of Rs 144.4 crore under the Design Build Finance Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model. The project will be completed within two years of commencement of operations.
Tenders can be called after the government approves the project. Currently, the file needs the approval of the Cabinet and the Chief Minister. The approval of the management board was obtained in a meeting held on Saturday.
Although the sketch has been prepared, the BBP administration has left the design and structure of the aquarium open to bidders. It has been modelled on the Aquatic Gallery in Ahmedabad’s Science City.
The aquarium is planned to be set up on 7.5 acres of land next to Chitte Park, with a total built-up area of 65,000 sq ft. This includes 43,050 sq ft of front-of-house facilities, 18,450 sq ft of back-of-house facilities and 3,500 sq ft of administrative space.
The front of the aquarium will house an entrance hall, exhibition halls, main tank, lounge and other amenities. “The plan is to house marine and freshwater fish species in a large aquarium complex with state-of-the-art filtration system and zero-waste model,” the official said.
Popular, endemic and local species from every region of Karnataka and India will be displayed in the aquarium. “The aim is to house as many species as possible in the aquarium, including the Mahaseer, also known as the water tiger, which is on the verge of extinction in the Cauvery river,” an official said.