Hyderabad morning walkers\' association questions Rs 50 entry fee to KBR Park

Hyderabad: Morning walkers living in the vicinity of the KBR Park and the Gandipet Eco-Park are an outraged lot over the allegedly exorbitant entry fee of Rs 50 charged by the parks, claiming that people are being put off of healthy lives due to the same.

Anusha Batchu, who decided to visit the KBR National Park every morning as part of her New Year’s resolution, said, “With this ticket price, I will have to shell out around Rs 18,000 per year just to be able to have a peaceful morning walk. Why should having to breathe fresh air cost so much?”

While the monthly pass for KBR Park costs Rs 400, it is not much consolation for students.

Many residents living in the vicinity of these two parks said that the entry fee to most other parks in the city was Rs 10-15, with popular ones, such as the Melkote Park in Himayatnagar charging Rs 5, the Durgam Cheruvu Park charging Rs 10 and others, including Indira Park, Bio-Diversity Park, Oxygen Park and AB Ground Park not charging an entry fee.

Santhana Selvan, Hyderabad’s ‘bicycle mayor’, said that the middle-class population cannot afford the entry fee of Rs 50 per day. “Parks are public property and shouldn't even charge an entry fee to taxpayers, ideally. We understand the money goes towards the maintenance of the park, but Rs 50 is highly unnecessary,” he said.

S. Abhishek, who visits the park occasionally, said that if the price was lower, he would consider visiting it more often. “I believe the price factor will only help encourage more people choose a healthier lifestyle. If keeping the common man away from affluent people is the sole reason for the pricing, then the authorities must think again. The park doesn't belong to only the rich,” he said.

A few, however, said that an entry fee of Rs 50 was acceptable due to its national park status. “KBR is a national park, protected by the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 for the conservation and improvement of wildlife. It isn't just any other public park; it is unfortunate that it is treated like a municipal park,” said Pranay Juvvadi.

A member of a morning walkers’ association said that while entry doesn’t have to be free, a single annual pass can be made available to provide access to all parks in the city.

“Having a pass will also motivate the person to use it, pushing them to choose walking to smaller distances than taking a bike. Small decisions have bigger impacts,” the member said.