Jammu and Kashmir is on the cusp of development, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said while dedicating Jambu Zoo here to the people on Monday.

“Spread over 70 hectares, this much-awaited addition to the tourist destinations of Jammu and Kashmir was taken up under a languishing project and it shall attract both residents and tourists visiting the Union Territory,” Sinha said during the inauguration event.

The foundation stone of the zoo was laid at Nagrota on the outskirts of the city along Jammu-Srinagar national highway in September, 2016 with the aim to make it a major attraction for animal lovers and tourists.

Touted to be the largest in north India, the Jambu Zoo will house 27 famous species of animals including the Royal Bengal tiger and Asiatic lion.?

Sinha hailed the successful conduct of the G20 meet in Srinagar recently, adding that the event has helped the Union Territory enter a new era of opportunities.?

Jammu and Kashmir is at a cusp in its development trajectory, he added.

“We have broken fresh grounds to enable faster growth. We are now at a stage where we need to accelerate this growth, make it more inclusive and convert the UT's potential into a reality,” the LG said.

“It is a rare moment and the world is applauding J&K's saga of development. We must work together to keep pace with the rest of the states and contribute to the significant task of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047',” he added.

Calling the youths the "architects" of the "new Jammu and Kashmir", Sinha said, “We are seeing a steady rise in youth entrepreneurs, who are working with dedication to build a prosperous society and preserve our civilisational-cultural values and our commitment to peace."