Patna, July 7: The newly introduced golf carts at Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park in the state capital have received an overwhelming response from visitors of all ages.
The rush for a trip of the park on the cart has given the authorities reasons to contemplate hiring two more such vehicles for the zoo.
Confirming this , zoo director Abhay Kumar said: “At present, three golf carts are in operation. Each 11-seater cart has been purchased for Rs 6,48,000 from Maini Materials Movement, a Bangalore-based company.†Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi had launched the service in the zoo on June 24.
The craze for golf carts is such that visitors have to wait for 40-45 minutes for a trip on weekends, whereas on weekdays, the waiting period is around half-an-hour. The ticket for the one-hour golf cart ride for adults is Rs 30 whereas for children up to 10 years is Rs 20. Those under three years of age can enjoy a free ride.
There are two starting points of the ride — from gate number one and gate number two. Each ride covers all the main points, including the aquarium, railway station, hyena cage, snake house, otter enclave, giraffe enclave, rock garden and water garden. If someone wants to reserve the golf cart for an hour, it will cost him/her Rs 300.
Driver-cum-guide
Apart from taking visitors all over the zoo in the battery-operated cart, the driver also informs them in detail about the different spots covered during the one-hour journey. His jokes are another source of entertainment for the visitors. The drivers also maintain a diary of the feedback they receive from the visitors.
The most common remark in the diary: Journey got over really fast. Add half-an-hour more to the ride.
“We are happy that the visitors are satisfied with the ride. We are maintaining a diary of the feedback. It’s quite exciting to know about their experience on the cart,†said a driver.
“We really enjoyed listening to the driver as he guided us through the zoo,†said Manish Sharma, a visitor who just got off the ride today.
Couple concern
While families prefer the soundless safari, couples who frequent the zoo to spend some private moments, are steering clear of the carts. A feeling of getting easily spotted in the open golf carts and the lack of privacy have made the carts a little uncomfortable for the couples.
Ranjan Kumar, the co-ordinator of the golf cart service, told The Telegraph: “Couples, who form a large chunk of the regular visitors to the zoo, are avoiding the cart rides. At the entrance, I have approached many couples, like I approach families, to offer them golf cart rides but they simply refuse, saying it will be a waste of time for them.â€
When The Telegraph tried convincing a few couples, it got a similar reaction from them. Rahul Raj (name changed), one of the couples at the zoo today, said: “Why will we want to take a ride when we have come here to spend some alone time here. The ride will only kill our time.â€
Sulakshana (name changed), his girlfriend, said: “I really don’t want to sit with so many people around. They can overhear our personal conversations.â€
However, there were a few couples who were ready to take the risk of a ride on the cart despite the fear of getting spotted by acquaintances.
Anjali Sinha, a Class XII student, was seen waiting for her boyfriend with two other friends. Anjali said: “I will love to go for the golf cart ride with my boyfriend. It might turn out to be one of the coolest ride for us as it is a new thing in Patna. What bothers me is the fear that if someone familiar spots us together, we might land in trouble. Moving in a crowd or lonely places is safer but for the experience, I will take the cart ride.â€