The trip to Semmozhi Poonga now costs more
The Hindu
Walkers send a petition to the CM’s Cell and Agriculture Secretary seeking a revision of the fee levied on walkers at Senmozhi Poonga in Chennai
A visit to the Semmozhi Poonga, the botanical gardens on Cathedral Road, has become more expensive. The Department of Horticulture-Plantation Crops has increased almost every fee levied on a user using its sprawling green space for any activity.
The entry ticket, parking charges, fee on use of camera and video and even the fee for walkers have been increased three to four times.
An entry ticket that was priced at ₹25 has now been increased to ₹75 for an adult. Fee for a child is ₹40.
The fee for parking will also keep going up after the first two hours. While parking for cars is ₹100, it ₹20 for two hours for two-wheelers.
So, a family of four coming to the poonga in a two-wheeler spends ₹250 towards entrance ticket and parking fee. Many are unhappy with the steep increase and have vented out their disappointment to the Department staff at the park.
A section of walkers have shot a petition (signed by many walkers) to the Chief Minister’s cell and the Agriculture Secretary. Walking fee that was earlier ₹ 200 a month is now ₹500. The display board also states that 6 a.m. to 9 a.m as the stipulated walking hours.
S. Satish Kumar, a resident of Royapettah, says all tariffs have been increased by over 150% which will discourage walkers from using the space for their morning or evening walk. “There are some who are thinking of moving to other open spaces such as the beach,” says Satish.