Puri, Sept 17: Odisha government is planning to establish an international-standard marine aquarium and underwater zoo near Puri beach to enhance marine tourism and elevate the pilgrim city’s global appeal.
The Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (F&ARD) Department has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the project, which aims to offer a world-class marine experience while promoting education, conservation, and sustainability.
Envisioned as a major attraction, the facility will complement Puri's iconic Shree Jagannath Temple and its beaches, establishing the city as a global hub for marine tourism.
According to the EOI, the project will be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The selected private entity will design, build, own, and operate the facility as a commercial venture. While the private partner will bear the investment and operational costs, the state government will provide land at a subsidized rate and may consider offering viability gap funding to support capital expenditure needs.
The selected organization will be responsible for creating exhibits of international standards, ensuring compliance with statutory and environmental regulations, and handling marketing and promotion efforts to attract both domestic and international tourists.
Interested firms must submit their proposals by October 10. The department will begin reviewing submissions on October 20, with the final announcement set for October 30.
