City authorities on Tuesday approved plans to redevelop Moscow's zoo and add parking for almost 500 cars.
Visitors have long complained about the lack of parking at the city attraction, which is located in the city center and served by the Barrikadnaya metro station.
Natalya Istratova, a spokeswoman for the zoo, told Izvestia in February that the plans to add underground car parking would cost the city budget 14 million rubles ($440,000). It was not clear whether that figure had changed since.
At the City Hall meeting on Tuesday, Andrei Antipov, chairman of the Moscow city government's architecture and urban planning committee, said that authorities also planned to redesign the zoo's main entrance, Interfax reported.
The zoo has submitted further plans to build a theater of mechanical animals, a new bridge to link the old and new parts of the zoo and an improved reptile house, the news agency said.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.