New Delhi/Nagpur, July 2, 2025 — NBCC (India) Limited has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FDCM Gorewada Zoo Limited (FGZL), a Government of Maharashtra undertaking, for the development of an African Safari and Entrance Plaza at the Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park in Nagpur.
The MoU was signed by Shri Chandrasekharan Bala, CEO, FGZL, and Shri Pravin Tukaram Doiphode, Executive Director, NBCC, in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, who envisions the project as a model for conservation-led tourism. Other dignitaries included Forest Minister Shri Ganesh Naik, NBCC CMD Shri K.P. Mahadevaswamy, FGZL MD Shri Naresh Zurmure, and senior government officials.
NBCC, the implementing agency, will undertake planning, design, and execution of the ₹355-crore project, which spans approximately 63 hectares. The development will feature an African Savannah Safari, Kopje walk trail, themed zoo, animal hospital, quarantine centre, and a visitor-friendly entrance plaza. The plaza will include interpretation centres, food courts, ticketing facilities, and parking for over 1,900 vehicles across six hectares. All works will incorporate eco-sensitive and sustainable design in line with global zoological standards.
The African Safari will be India’s first to replicate African ecosystems, housing over 30 species including giraffes, lions, cheetahs, hippos, zebras, and chimpanzees. Visitors will experience wildlife through drive-through safaris and walking trails, ensuring immersive interaction while maintaining animal welfare.
This initiative marks a strategic milestone in India’s eco-tourism and infrastructure sector, reinforcing NBCC’s role in delivering world-class public infrastructure that promotes conservation, supports local economies, and showcases India’s capacity to build global-standard projects using indigenous expertise..
