Mumbai: The proposal to increase the monthly pass of morning walkers at Veer Jijamata Udyan has been approved by BMC corporators cutting all parties. The pass can now be availed at Rs 150, the cost of which was earlier Rs 30. The increase will come into effect from August 1.
Along with this hike, the civic authority has also agreed to increase the price of entry fee for viewing the Humboldt penguins at Byculla zoo.
Earlier, children between the age group of 3 to 12 years were charged a fee of Rs. 3 per child and above the age of 12 years, were charged Rs. 5. Now the entry fees to view the penguins will increase from Rs. 3 to Rs 25 and from Rs. 5 to Rs. 50 in respect of the children’s ages. While a family of four comprising husband and wife and two kids will have to pay Rs. 100, after the BMC gave its nod for the approval.
The proposal was tabled by Yashwant Jadhav, the Shiv Sena corporator in the general body meeting of BMC on Thursday. It was passed unanimously. However,, Manoj Kotak, the Group Leader of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) opposed the move and said his party corporators were not allowed to raise thier objections in the House. He accused Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar of approving the proposal without listening to the opposition voice.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Jadhav said, “We oppose this hike for morning walkers as they are residents of the neighbourhood and this is a huge hike in the pass which we do not feel it is justified.” But Ravi Raja, Leader of Opposition of Congress taunted the BJP and said, “BJP corporators call themselves the whistleblowers of BMC. Why were they silent when the proposal was tabled in civic body meeting?”
