Cost of maintenance of the penguin enclosure at Byculla Zoo has risen by 25 per cent compared to the previous contract. Now the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will spend Rs 20 crore for three years. Currently, there are 18 penguins at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden and Zoo. BMC appointed a contractor for regular maintenance of the penguin enclosure and to take care of the flightless birds. On the previous occasion, BMC appointed a contractor for R15 crore for three years. Now, BMC has invited tenders for the next three years for Rs 20 crore. Sources claim the cost of the tender usually rises by around 10 to 12 per cent after every three years. But this time the cost of the tender has risen by 25 per cent.

The official of the zoo said the cost of tender rose due to growing penguin numbers. “Usually the cost of tender increases by 10 per cent after three years. But now as the number of penguins has increased, so has the cost. There are now 18 penguins in the zoo,” the official said. This contract includes the maintenance of the enclosure and provide food, doctors, engineers and other facilities for the penguins,” the official added.