Rock Garden, a favourite getaway within the city at Gonda hill near Kanke Road, barely 4km from Albert Ekka Chowk, will get more tourist-friendly.

The revamp plan includes construction of entrance and exit gates, a bigger parking area and pathway, besides some artistic embellishments to the approach road.

The tender for this development work-cum-facelift was issued on Thursday. The last day to submit bids is February 12. It is expected the work will get completed by the end of this year or February next year.

The estate officer of Ranchi Regional Development Authority (RRDA) Mohammed Aftab Ahmed explained why this job was needed.

“If you go to Rock Garden you will find that the entry and exit don’t look as beautiful as the rest of the site. And with the increase in the number of visitors with two-wheelers and cars, it was obvious that a proper facility for parking had to be developed there. The existing parking area is too small. The pathway also needs work. So the reasons for the job are both practical and aesthetic,” Ahmad said.

Environment concerns are often flagged when any development work is done at places of natural beauty such as forest, hill, hillock or mountain.

Asked whether the work would affect the natural beauty of Gonda hill on which Rock Garden is located, Ahmad said every care would be taken to ensure that nothing of the sort happens.

“We will pay proper attention to protect the natural beauty of the site while developing the amenities,” he said.

Popular with families, children, youths and photographers alike, Rock Garden, said to be inspired from the one in Jaipur, has rocks, rock sculptures and even faux waterfalls strewn about artistically. At the base of Gonda hill lies the Kanke Dam, which adds to the tourist attraction of Rock Garden.