After Lalbagh, now it is the turn of Nandi Hills to increase entry and vehicle parking fees, citing Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The Horticulture Department, which manages the famous tourist spot has taken a decision to double the entry fee from ₹10 to ₹ 20. Parking fees for two-wheelers will be increased from ₹20 to ₹30, and car parking rates have been revised from₹100 to ₹125.
The department has floated a tender to select a contractor to collect the revised fee. The move will affect more than 10 lakh tourists visiting the hill station located 60 km from the city.
The department has also decided to charge motorists ₹175 to park their car on the side of the road next to the hill. The current fee is ₹100.
“We have increased the rate to discourage people from taking their vehicles to the top of the hill,” said Ramesh N., special officer, Nandi Hills. He added that the horticulture department is planning to introduce various measures to decongest the hilltop. “We have introduced battery-operated vehicles, and there is a proposal to introduce cycles on rent.”
On the subject of increasing entry and vehicle parking fees, Mr. Ramesh cited GST as the reason. “At present, GST is not part of the fee collected by the existing contractor. In two months, a new contractor will be selected to collect the new fee for a period of two years. The department is expected to collect ₹4 crore revenue in two years, of which 18% will go towards GST. The last revision was made three to four years ago.”
The decision of the authorities to increase fees has not gone down well with visitors.
Anusha, who often travels to Nandi Hills from Bengaluru, said: “Increasing fees for tourist places, like Lalbagh and Nandi Hills, citing GST is against the interest of tourists.”
Prabhakar, another visitor, said the State government should pursue the matter with the Central Government to relax GST for public tourist spots.
Nandi Hills is one of the favourite tourist spots of Bengalureans, especially during the weekend.
As many as 8,000 people visit Nandi Hills on Sundays. On Saturday, it ranges from 4,000 to 4,500 and averages 1,000 people on weekdays.
