Ahmedabad: Earlier slated to open around mid-April and then postponed to May, the newly revamped Balvatika at Kankaria Lake continues to remain closed to the public. Due to this delay, children were unable to visit the city’s major recreational hub during their holidays, and schools have now resumed after the summer break.

Balvatika was redeveloped under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model as an innovative family entertainment park, boasting a variety of attractions such as a snow park, wax museum, transparent glass tower, and 21 adventure rides. Other features include a coin house, air-conditioned glass house, shoe house, landscape garden, selfie zone, and glow station—all covered under a ₹50 entry fee. Premium attractions, like the snow park, cost extra (₹450 including jacket rental).

Even though the entry and ticket structure was announced on April 30, visitors have not been able to access the facility, as the park remains shut due to delays in securing mandatory approvals following the Rajkot Game Zone tragedy.

According to AMC officials, some key permissions have already been secured, but approvals are still awaited from several civic departments, including Roads and Buildings, Civil, Mechanical, and Estate. Additionally, the police license, which is now a crucial requirement, is expected to be received within 10 days.

Superstar Amusement Pvt. Ltd. has invested ₹22 crore in the redevelopment of Balvatika. Earlier, the park generated around ₹10 lakh annually for the AMC. Post-redevelopment, the civic body is expected to receive ₹19.23 lakh in fixed rent and 27% of ticket revenues. Total annual income is estimated to reach around ₹40 lakh.

While the AMC maintains that the delay is due to safety concerns, the prolonged closure has sparked public criticism, particularly over the missed opportunity during peak vacation season raising questions about the efficiency of project execution. DeshGujarat