Visiting Hyderabad Zoo gets costly

Visiting Nehru Zoological Park will be a costly affair for families in Hyderabad as the State government has increased fees for entry, joyrides, parking and many other services.

As per the enhanced rates, adults and children will have to shell out Rs 100 and Rs 50 respectively as against Rs 70 and Rs 45 (weekdays) and Rs 80 and Rs 55 (weekends) in the past.

The new rates will come into force from March 1. The decision to increase the rates was taken during the 13th Governing Body of Zoos and Parks Authority of Telangana meeting.

Nehru Zoological Park Curator J Vasantha said the zoo will now have uniform rates, unlike different rates for weekdays and weekends.

“Every year, the rates are enhanced. During the Governing Body meeting held in June last year, it has been decided to increase the fee and we have recieved the minutes and accordingly released new rates,” she said.

It’s not just the entry fee into the zoo park, visitors now



have to cough up more for visiting different animal enclosures. The entry for fish aquarium, which was Rs 10 per individual, has been enhanced to Rs 20. Similarly, the Safari Park drive in an AC vehicle went up from Rs 120 to Rs 150, whereas in the non-AC vehicle the fee has been shot up from Rs 80 to Rs 100.

The much loved toy train ride will now cost Rs 80 for adults and Rs 40 for children as against Rs 45 and Rs 25 in the past. Further, taking photos and videos of the animals has also become costly as still and video camera usage charges have gone up from Rs 120 to Rs 150 and Rs 600 to Rs 2,500 respectively. As per new rates, a movie camera shooting (commercial) will cost Rs 10,000.

The authorities have also enhanced the charges of battery operating vehicles, fixing Rs 120 and Rs 70 charges for adult and child respectively as against Rs 95 and Rs 60 (weekdays) and Rs 110 and Rs 70 (weekends). Further, parking a cycle, bike, auto, car and tempo will cost Rs 10, Rs 30, Rs 80, Rs 100, and Rs 150 respectively.