Tirupati Zoo entry becomes costlier

Tirupati: Those who are planning to visit SV Zoological Park in temple city from now onwards will have to reach there with a heavy purse, as they will get a shock at the entrance itself with exorbitant fees. Otherwise, they may be left with no money with them to buy tickets to all members or to buy snacks and drinks inside the zoo.

The latest steep hike in entry fee and for other services makes it difficult and burdensome to ordinary people. Various charges have been increased by more than 50 per cent, which came into force from May 12. The Zoo authority of Andhra Pradesh has fixed the new tariff and asked the two zoos in the State−Tirupati and Visakhapatnam−to implement them. Accordingly, SV Zoological Park in Tirupati has been implementing the new tariff.

Under the new tariff, the entry itself has gone up to Rs 50 from Rs 20 for adults while the fee for four wheelers to enter inside the zoo will be Rs 500 which was earlier Rs 250. The Rs 25 battery car ticket has become Rs 50 for adults and Rs 30 for children.

Those who wish to see the Lion safari or white tiger safari also has to pay another Rs 50 which was Rs 25 earlier. For parking of two wheelers, one has to pay Rs 10 and for cars, jeeps or autos it would be Rs 30. To enter the zoo with a cycle a sum of Rs 100 has to be paid.

Tirupati Zoo has been getting increased patronage from the visitors with the number of visitors have been increasing year after year. Pilgrims visiting Tirumala also visit zoo if at all they find any time.

Spread over 1,254 hectares, SV Zoo is having the animals in enclosures which closely resembles the natural surroundings. It is also known for its mythological theme. All this made the zoo as a biggest attraction. At the same time, the organisational expenditure was also steeply increasing more than its revenue.

After the establishment of zoo in 1993, only two times the feeses were revised. The revenue of the zoo has been touching about Rs 3 to 4 crore till last fiscal, whereas the budget was Rs 5 crore. They get the balance amount from the government. Zoo authorities were saying that with the existing revenue it was difficult to meet the expenditure and master implementation and for that reason seeking help from donors in various forms.

With the new tariff, they hope to get at least Rs 8 crore revenue per year and become self-sufficient. Speaking to The Hans India, In-charge curator of the Zoo M Babitha has said that even after the increase in fees, still they are very less compared to other zoo parks in India. However, visitors have expressed their displeasure over the hike in fees.

A visitor from Rajampet in Kadapa district B Siva Kumar said that they have spent Rs 3,000 to hire a vehicle and came here to show the zoo to children. “Having come all the way, we have to pay Rs 500 to get inside which was too much. Along with entry fee and for other tickets inside zoo, we have to bear another Rs 1,500 or so,” he explained. Other visitors also were also of the opinion.

BY V Pradeep Kumar