Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Panel Urged to Reconsider India’s First Urban Night Safari
Uttar Pradesh wants to build a night safari and zoo in the Kukrail forest in Lucknow.
The Supreme Court allowed the project to move forward after considering recommendations from a special committee.
A former forest officer says the plan has changed too much and should be reviewed again.
She says the project area is now much larger than the area in the original report.
She also says new environmental and zoo approvals may be needed.
The project would include a night safari first and a day zoo later.
Officials say the zoo authority approved the larger layout and that they will follow the court’s conditions.
The committee will ask government departments for their comments.
A petitioner has urged the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee to halt the Kukrail Night Safari project in Lucknow.
The representation argues that changes to the approved proposal require a new project appraisal and fresh clearances.
It says the current project area is 855.07 acres, while the detailed project report cited 390.75 acres.
The proposed project includes permanent structures on reserved forest land, including an auditorium, 7D theatre and amphitheatre.
The project director said the Central Zoo Authority approved an approximately 850-acre master layout and that officials would comply with all conditions.
- Who
- Former Indian Forest Service officer Prakriti Srivastava, Uttar Pradesh officials, the Central Empowered Committee and the Central Zoo Authority are involved.
- What
- A representation seeks to halt or reassess the proposed Kukrail Night Safari and Zoological Park and obtain fresh approvals.
- When
- The Supreme Court allowed the project to proceed on July 15, and Srivastava submitted her representation on August 21.
- Where
- The project is proposed in the Kukrail forest in northeastern Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- The representation says changes to the project, including a larger area and construction on forest land, require a new appraisal and fresh clearances.
Reappraisal and Fresh Clearances
Proceed Under Existing Approval
Need for a new project review
Reappraisal and Fresh Clearances
Prakriti Srivastava argues that changes to the original proposal mean the detailed project report and earlier approvals should be reconsidered, with fresh Central Zoo Authority and environmental clearances obtained.
Proceed Under Existing Approval
Project director Ram Kumar says the Central Zoo Authority approved the approximately 850-acre master layout and that officials will comply with the Supreme Court’s conditions.
Use of forest land
Reappraisal and Fresh Clearances
The representation says the project is on reserved forest land and includes permanent structures that require forest clearance before construction begins.
Proceed Under Existing Approval
The project director said that, under the amended Forest Conservation Act, 2023, zoos and safaris are considered forestry activity.
Project design and scope
Reappraisal and Fresh Clearances
The petitioner highlights a discrepancy between the 390.75-acre area in the detailed project report and the current 855.07-acre project area.
Proceed Under Existing Approval
Uttar Pradesh officials maintain that the larger master layout has been approved, while acknowledging that any changes would be referred again to the Central Zoo Authority.
- Estimated cost
- Rs 1,510.57 crore
- Proposed area
- 855.07 acres, according to the article
- Area in DPR
- 390.75 acres
- Project phases
- The first phase is planned as a night safari; the second as a day zoo.
- Additional plans
- The project also includes ecotourism activities.
- Existing approvals
- The Central Zoo Authority and the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority have approved the proposal.
- Committee response
- CEC Chairperson Chandra Prakash Goyal said comments would be sought from the concerned departments.