Pune: Katraj Dog Park Plans Stalled: Awaiting Central Zoo Authority Approval

Katraj, 27th June 2024: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) decided to establish the city’s first dog park next to the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Katraj. However, this plan has not yet received approval from the Central Zoo Authority of India. The PMC assured that the park would not disturb the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park animals and is completely independent of the Zoological Park, but the lack of approval has delayed the project.

As Pune’s population grows, so does the number of pets. While Pune offers parks, playgrounds, and jogging tracks for citizens, dog owners often walk their dogs along the roads, leading to unsanitary conditions from dog bodily waste. Many citizens have complained, and there have even been police cases due to related disputes.

Inspired by dog parks in Mumbai and Hyderabad, the PMC decided to set up a dog park on the Katraj-Kondhwa road, covering about four and a half acres adjacent to the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park. The then PMC commissioner inspected and approved this site, and a plan costing Rs 7 crore was prepared. However, since the site is within the Zoological Park’s purview, the PMC sought permission from the Central Zoo Authority of India. Despite explaining that the park would be isolated from the Zoological Park and would not disturb the animals, approval is still pending. Last month, the Garden Department of the PMC sent another request, but without success, halting the project’s progress.

PMC Additional Commissioner Ramvindra Binwade stated, “The site of the dog park at Katraj has not yet been approved by the Central Zoo Authority of India. Efforts are ongoing. We are also looking for alternative sites in other parts of the city.”

Due to the delay at Katraj, the PMC is considering other large amenity spaces in Pune for the dog park. Sites ranging from one to three acres are being evaluated, including a location in Baner along the Mumbai-Bengaluru National Highway. The Katraj site plan included walkways for dog owners, poop scoopers, composting pits, an amphitheatre, a veterinary clinic, a training centre, a play area, a grooming parlour, a swimming pool for dogs, and parking for dog lovers. However, if the new site is smaller, some facilities might be reduced.