Hyderabad zoo goes green with new eco-friendly electric toy train

As part of its green initiatives, the Nehru Zoological Park will soon launch an EV train that will join the popular toy train, which has been taking visitors, particularly the children, on joy rides for nearly 60 years.

Hyderabad: A new train will soon hit the tracks at the Nehru Zoological Park (NZP) here. As part of its green initiatives, the NZP will soon introduce an EV train that will join the popular toy train, which has been taking visitors, particularly the children, on joy rides for nearly 60 years.

Unlike the present diesel-powered engine, the new one runs on electricity, making it an eco-friendly, quiet and smooth ride. It is being designed to offer the same joyful experience to visitors as the present toy train.

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The zoo authorities have recently signed an agreement with a renewable energy company, which under its Corporate Social Responsibility decided to extend the train fleet. Once on track, the new train will take the same route, passing through animal enclosures like Tigers, Lions, Giraffe, and Elephants among other animals. It may have three or four bogies with a capacity to ride 100 adults and 120-150 children in a single trip.

The existing train, which is famous among children, will not go anywhere. It will be operated on the same tracks when the zoo draws large crowds, particularly during summer vacation, weekends and special events. Presently, it offers an uninterrupted 20-minute loop around the zoo, carrying 125 to 130 children or around 90 adults per ride. The zoo charges Rs. 80 per adult and Rs.40 per child for the ride.

The zoo got its first toy train as a gift from the Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) in 1968. Since then it has been extending services to visitors. However, given the aging engine, the train has been facing issues. Last year, the train was off the track for about four months due to engine issues. It was repaired and put back on the tracks.

“We will soon introduce an EV train in the zoo. The present train still has ample service to extend as it had been recently repaired. So, we will also be operating the diesel train on the days when the zoo records high footfalls,” Telangana Zoo Parks Director, Dr. Sunil S Hiremath told ‘Telangana Today‘.

As part of its green initiative, the zoo has already launched around 45 battery operated vehicles for the visitors to go around the zoo.