VISAKHAPATNAM: People, particularly elderly people and some political leaders, have strongly objected to the collection of entry fees for visiting Rushikonda beach.
The objection grew vehement after the district administration announced that it is hiking the entry fee at the beach from ₹10 to ₹20 and ₹50. A tourism official said the entry fee had to be hiked as ₹6 lahks per month is being spent on security, lifeguards, cleaning staff and equipment.
The tourism official said they have appointed 39 persons at the beach on various duties and also improved basic facilities after Rushikonda beach got the Blue Flag tag.
Incidentally, the entry fee has been enhanced after tourism officials visited some Blue Flag beaches in the country, where such a fee is being charged. The new fee will come into effect from July 11. Those who purchase the entry ticket can use drinking water, swimming and playground facilities.
Children below 10 years will not be charged.
Several people living in Rushikonda and surrounding areas have objected to the enhanced fee, stating that nowhere a fee is collected to visit the sea.
“It is the responsibility of the government to create infrastructure, deploy security and keep the place clean. It cannot charge people money for the same,” said G. Silpa, who regularly accompanies her grandfather to the Rushikonda beach.
A retired marine engineer Dileep Nayak said the government can collect fees for using entertainment areas and toilets and not for merely visiting the beach.
“No fee is collected at the Dead Sea in Israel, which is the most visited place in the world,” Nayak remarked.
Former minister and senior TD leader Ganta Srinivasa Rao too objected to the entry fee at Rushikonda Beach.
“YSRC government has demolished buildings, constructed infrastructure in restricted areas and is now charging a fee to visit a prominent beach in Andhra Pradesh,’’ he pointed out.
