The Department of Museums and Zoo is moving ahead with its plan to establish a wireless communication system on the sprawling 55-acre premises in the city.
Walkie-talkies will be distributed among the employees to improve the speed and efficiency of communication and supervision. Senior officials view this as long overdue for nearly every large zoo in the country and abroad have their keepers equipped with this device.
It was in September last year that this plan was conceived and the department filed an online application for licence for frequencies to the Wireless Planning and Coordination wing, functioning under the Department of Telecommunications in New Delhi.
Once the licence was obtained, sealed competitive tenders were invited in May from firms for the supply and commissioning of 25 digital walkie-talkies and one digital repeater.
Three agencies have come forward and they will be summoned, as per the convenience of DoT officials, who will conduct an evaluation.
“We have not fixed a date yet but by July-end the testing should be done. We have sent a letter requesting DoT authorities for this purpose and depending on their convenience, the three agencies will be called,” says Zoo Director B. Joseph.
There were initial concerns that the undulating terrain may cause disruptions and affect communication. Police officials were asked to try their walkie-talkies inside the campus and even though they were using analogue and not digital, there were no problems.
The success of this test has even prompted officials to reconsider the need for a repeater which amplifies signals. The cost of the project is estimated to come up to around Rs.5 lakh.
In an age when everyone is equipped with mobile phones, is it truly necessary to procure digital walkie-talkies for the employees in the zoo?
Staffers here are unanimous in their opinion that even though they have been making do with mobile phones, the two-way radios would greatly simplify matters here.
For one, it will work out to be cheaper for unlimited communication does not result in massive phone bills. Plus, the zoo is an environment where things can go terribly wrong quickly, requiring emergency services. Walkie-talkies will save time, as you would no longer need to hunt for a specific number, says zoo veterinarian Jacob Alexander.
Supervision of keepers and their attendance will also be easier, he added. The CCTV camera surveillance system has significantly helped senior officials, as they now can keep track of everything from one place. Around 40 new cameras will also be installed soon.
