HYDERABAD: HMDA said it would take stringent action against the contractor for the upkeep of Lumbini Park over collecting an additional Rs 50 per ticket along with Rs 10 as cloakroom charge from visitors.
As per the agreement signed with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), the agency is allowed collect Rs 50 per ticket, which includes the charge for the laser show. However, the agency has been collecting Rs 100 per ticket, having recently resumed the laser show without any communication with the HMDA.
Sources said that the contracted agency has given the project to a sub-contractor, who has been collecting Rs 100 per ticket, with Rs 20 per piece of baggage placed in the cloakroom, instead of considering all the baggage of a visitor as one item.
When visitors complained to the higher authorities, the agency stopped giving out printed tickets for baggage and replaced them with tokens.
An HMDA official, requesting anonymity, said that although higher authorities were aware of the irregularities, they are remaining mute spectators. He said that the private agency is carrying on with the irregularities and cheating patrons without their knowledge.
Irregularities were also reported from the laserium, located adjacent to Lumbini Park, that was developed in 2005 across 2.5 acres at a cost of Rs 12 crore. The show includes musical dancing fountains with 116 water effects, and the gallery can seat 2,000 people.
As per the agreement, the agency responsible is supposed to collect Rs 35 per person, but is instead charging Rs 50 per head, standing to make an additional Rs 4.5 crore. Sources said that the agency is making up for losses suffered during the lockdown.
