writer by Sanjoy gorh
Assam is planning a ₹534-crore Wildlife Safari and Rescue Centre at Namdang Reserved Forest in Dibrugarh, with the proposed project expected to strengthen wildlife rescue, conservation, research and eco-tourism in Upper Assam.
Assam has proposed a major expansion of its wildlife infrastructure with a ₹534-crore Wildlife Safari and Rescue Centre in Dibrugarh district. The proposed facility will come up across approximately 235 hectares of Namdang Reserved Forest under the Tingkhong Assembly constituency.
Assam Forest and Climate Change Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah reviewed the proposal with senior Forest Department officials and other concerned departments on Sunday. The project is planned to be implemented by the Assam Public Works Department (PWD) in two phases.
For local residents, tourists and wildlife enthusiasts, the project is significant because it is not being planned simply as a conventional zoo. The proposal combines safari facilities, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, veterinary care, research and tourism infrastructure.
Where will the Dibrugarh Wildlife Safari Centre come up?
The proposed centre will be located at Namdang Reserved Forest in Dibrugarh district, within the Tingkhong Assembly constituency.
According to the latest project details, the site is approximately 20 km from Dibrugarh town and around 30 km from Dibrugarh Airport. Its relatively close distance to the town and airport could make it accessible to tourists travelling to Upper Assam.
The location also gives the project a strong connection with the existing forest landscape. Earlier planning documents described the centre as being developed in a naturalistic setting, with an emphasis on wildlife conservation rather than a conventional urban zoo model.
₹534 crore project to be developed in two phases
The total estimated project cost is ₹534 crore, divided into two phases.
Phase 1: ₹259 crore
The first phase is estimated at ₹259 crore.
It is proposed to include dedicated enclosures for:
- Tigers
- Rhinoceroses
- Leopards
- Bears
This phase will also include a veterinary hospital and wildlife rescue centre. These facilities are intended to support the treatment, rehabilitation and management of wild animals.
Phase 2: ₹275 crore
The second phase is estimated at ₹275 crore.
According to the latest reports, it will introduce facilities for Asiatic lions, cheetahs, zebras and hippopotamuses, along with an advanced research centre.
Together, the two phases account for the full ₹534-crore estimated investment.
More than just a tourist attraction
One of the most important points about the project is its proposed conservation role.
The original ₹259-crore project approved in 2024 was intended to provide rescue and rehabilitation services for fauna in the region. The plan included international-standard safari facilities for herbivores and carnivores, bird aviaries, walking trails, naturalistic attractions and a full-fledged veterinary facility.
This means the centre could eventually serve multiple purposes:
Wildlife rescue + veterinary care + rehabilitation + research + education + eco-tourism.
That could be particularly useful for Upper Assam, where wildlife sometimes comes into contact with human settlements and tea-garden areas.
Project was first approved in 2024
The ₹534-crore proposal has a longer history.
In February 2024, the Assam Cabinet approved a Wildlife Safari and Rescue Centre at Namdang Reserved Forest at an estimated cost of ₹259 crore. At that time, the project was described as a facility for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation and as a potential major tourist attraction showcasing the biodiversity of Northeast India.
Earlier planning reports described the initial site as approximately 150 hectares and said the project was being designed around naturalistic enclosures. A 2024 report also noted that Central Zoo Authority approval was awaited at that stage.
The latest 2026 proposal, however, describes the planned facility as covering approximately 235 hectares and having a total estimated cost of ₹534 crore. Therefore, readers should not confuse the earlier 150-hectare/₹259-crore project description with the latest expanded proposal.
Employment and local economic benefits
The project could also have an impact beyond tourism.
When the ₹259-crore project was announced in 2024, the government said the proposed centre could employ around 100 skilled and unskilled workers. It also estimated that economic activity connected with visitor services and the supply of goods could benefit at least 50,000 people living near the proposed site.
If implemented as planned, the centre could therefore create opportunities for tourism-related businesses, transport services, hospitality, food services and other visitor-oriented activities.
However, these figures are earlier government estimates, not a guarantee of future employment or income.
Why the project matters for Upper Assam
Dibrugarh is already an important gateway to Upper Assam, and the proposed centre’s location near both the city and airport could help strengthen the region’s wildlife-tourism network.
The project could provide visitors with a new destination while also creating a dedicated facility for wildlife rescue, treatment and rehabilitation.
Its research component could be equally important. The proposed advanced research centre may help expand scientific work related to wildlife management and conservation, although detailed research activities and operational plans have not yet been publicly specified in the latest reports.
What is confirmed—and what is not?
It is important not to confuse the proposal with an operational wildlife park.
Confirmed in the latest reports: the ₹534-crore proposal, approximately 235-hectare site, Namdang location, two-phase implementation, ₹259-crore first phase, ₹275-crore second phase, proposed species facilities, veterinary and rescue infrastructure, and advanced research centre.
Not yet established from the latest reports: an opening date, ticket prices, visitor timings, final construction schedule, exact safari routes or confirmation that every species listed will ultimately be housed at the facility.
Those details should be announced separately as the project progresses.
What this means for Dibrugarh
The proposed ₹534-crore Wildlife Safari and Rescue Centre could become one of Dibrugarh’s major upcoming wildlife and tourism projects.
Its importance goes beyond the safari experience. If implemented successfully, the centre could combine wildlife rescue, veterinary treatment, rehabilitation, conservation research and eco-tourism in one large facility.
For visitors, the biggest attraction will likely be the proposed wildlife enclosures and safari experience. For the region, however, the more important long-term benefit could be the creation of dedicated wildlife-care infrastructure closer to Upper Assam.
For now, the project remains planned/proposed, and further details on construction, approvals, timelines and visitor facilities will be important to watch as the Assam government moves ahead with implementation.