Upper Assam is getting a large new addition to its conservation infrastructure, with the state forest department pushing ahead on a Rs 534 crore wildlife safari and rescue centre planned for Dibrugarh district.
State Forest and Climate Change Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah went through the project blueprint on Sunday in a meeting with senior officials from the departments that will be involved in building and running the facility. The site earmarked for the project lies within the Namdang Reserved Forest area, which falls under the Tingkhong Assembly constituency.
A 235-hectare campus close to the city
The planned facility will spread across more than 235 hectares, making it one of the larger wildlife infrastructure projects in the region. Its location has been chosen with visitor access in mind, the site sits roughly 20 km from Dibrugarh town and close to 30 km from Dibrugarh airport, putting it within relatively easy reach for both local visitors and travellers flying into Upper Assam.
Two-phase construction, split by species
The Assam Public Works Department will execute the project in two separate phases. The first phase carries an estimated cost of Rs 259 crore and will focus on enclosures for tigers, rhinoceroses, leopards and bears, alongside a veterinary hospital and a dedicated rescue centre for injured or displaced wildlife.
The second phase, estimated at Rs 275 crore, will expand the facility to house Asiatic lions, cheetahs, zebras and hippos. This phase also includes plans for an advanced research centre, intended to support scientific work alongside the animal enclosures.
Conservation plus tourism, in one facility
Baruah described the project as a comprehensive facility that will strengthen the state's ability to rescue and conserve wildlife while also creating fresh opportunities for eco-tourism in the region. He shared details of the plan on X, calling it a step toward expanding Assam's wildlife conservation infrastructure.
Beyond drawing visitors, the centre is expected to create employment opportunities for people in the Dibrugarh region. Officials also expect its proximity to Dibrugarh city and the airport to improve tourist footfall, giving a wider boost to wildlife tourism across Upper Assam.
