E-Paper
ADA proposes hike in entry fees for Taj, other monuments
lkoreportersdesk@htlive.com
lkoreportersdesk@htlive.com
The Agra Development Authority (ADA) has proposed a hike in entry fee to the Taj Mahal and other monuments in the district.
In its board meeting chaired by commissioner (Agra division) Anil Kumar, the ADA forwarded the proposal to the state government. Both domestic and foreign tourists would have to pay more for entry tickets, if the proposed hike is implemented, said officials.
District magistrate NG Ravi Kumar, ADA vice-chairman Shubra Saxena, municipal commissioner Arun Prakash and ADM (city) KP Singh were also present in the meeting.
Various proposals for the city’s development and levying of charges to fund ongoing schemes were taken up during the board meeting. A hike was proposed on ‘path kar’ (toll tax) realised by ADA at various monuments.
It may be mentioned that entry tickets for most of the prominent monuments comprise the share of both Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Agra Development Authority (ADA).
The ASI had increased its share in the past, but now ADA proposed to hike its share.
At present, Indian tourists pay Rs 50 as entry fee to Taj Mahal. The ADA gets Rs 10 from this amount while Rs 40 goes to the ASI.
It was proposed that the entry ticket for Taj be priced at Rs 80 so that the ADA also gets a share of Rs 40 (as much as ASI).
The authority also proposed entry fees of Rs 80 (domestic tourists) for Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
Currently, foreign tourists are paying Rs 1,100 for entry to the Taj Mahal. Of this amount, ADA gets Rs 500 while Rs 600 goes to the ASI.
The ADA has proposed to increase its share to Rs 600 (on par with ASI). If the proposal is approved, foreign tourists would have to pay an entry fee of Rs 1,200 at Taj Mahal.
Justifying the proposed hike, Shubra Saxena, vice-chairperson for ADA, stated that it was long overdue and aimed at funding better infrastructure, facilities and services for tourists.
“The prevalent rates for ADA are those that were implemented in 2000. We have only proposed hike to get on par with ASI. This proposal was discussed during the board meeting last held in 2015. It was forwarded to the state government, but somehow could not be implemented,” stated Saxena.
