If the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has its way, children visiting Sayaji Baugh will soon see two toy trains chugging across the huge garden. Top VMC officials are planning to introduce the second such train on the Public-Private Partnership model.

While there was a proposal which was part of the Standing Committee that met on Thursday, VMC commissioner M K Das informed his staff to withdraw the same for some ‘technical’ reasons. The reason behind withdrawing the proposal was to add an important portion to introduce the second train.

It was in the budget speech that Das had proposed a PPP model to run the Toy Train services and modernise the existing set up at Sayaji Baugh. “Children who turn up at Sayaji Baugh Zoo would never want to return without having a ride of the Toy Train. And, when they don't get the chance for some reasons, the enthusiasm goes down in a moment. With the intention to make each children smile, we would like to introduce a bigger and better Toy Train,” Das stated in his budget speech.

The approximate expenditure on the Toy Train was close to Rs 10 lakh annually and against that the income was roughly Rs 3 lakh.

“That is the reason we decided to go for the PPP model. The issue was about to be put up in the standing committee meeting but at the last moment, the Commissioner decided to add an important element,” said V R Chikhalia, director, Parks and Gardens.

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