more-in Mumbai: The Save Rani Baug Botanical Garden Foundation, a citizens group, has started an online signature campaign to stall a 20-fold increase in the entry fee to the garden in Byculla, after their demands were reportedly ignored by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Ajoy Mehta. The civic body has proposed to increase the entry fee to the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan (also known as Byculla zoo) or Rani Baug from ?5 to ?100 per adult, and ?2 to ?25 for children aged between 3 and 12. Dr. Sanjay Tripathi, director of Rani Baug said, “Presently, the entry fee is too less; it’s ?3 for children and ?5 for adults. It has been the same since 1995, but now, for overall development and facilities provided in the garden, and in the zoo, we need to hike the fee. I do not think it is impossible for anyone to shell out ?25.” However, one of the trustees of the foundation, Hutokshi Rustomfram, said, “We should not think of the Udyan as a garden. It is an open place in the heart of the city. It is a place where people relax under the shade of trees. Rani Baug is a public garden, and everyone should be welcome.” The group has got 267 signatures in their campaign so far. Another trustee, Shubhada Nikharge, said, “The BMC has always supported and agreed to work with us in the plans for the development of the garden. When they wanted to bring penguins, we did not interfere, but now they want to hike the entry fee to bring more exotic animals at an exorbitant cost, which is worthless. We cannot accept that.” According to the citizens, the property is spread across 21 hectares, out of which 68% is the botanical garden and 18% is the zoo. The remaining 14% includes BMC offices and proposed mayor bungalow. Responding to the comments of the group members, Dr. Tripathi, on Friday evening, said, “Those who come as families will be charged ?25 per person. Government school students and senior citizens will not be charged.” He also added that time restrictions will not be imposed on visitors. “We are working towards keeping the park clean. We have also introduced rides for kids. But adults tend to destroy the rides even after being charged with a fine.”

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