PUNE: Domestic visitors and those from SAARC countries will have to pay an extra Rs10 at the Unesco World Heritage sites across Maharashtra — Ajanta-Ellora caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Elephanta caves . The fee jumps up by Rs100 for visitors from other nations.Entry fee to other heritage sites in the state, such as Shaniwarwada and Aga Khan Palace in Pune, Kanheri caves in Mumbai, Karla caves near Lonavla, Pandu Lena caves near Nashik , among others, has also increased from Rs15 to Rs25, per head, for Indians and visitors from SAARC nations. For foreigners, the fee to such heritage monuments is now Rs300, per head, instead of the earlier Rs200.On Wednesday, after the Union government effected a hike in ticket prices, the entry fee has gone up at all ticketed monuments under the purview of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The fee has increased by about 30% to 60% for Indian visitors and 20% for foreigners.For instance, if a visitor was paying Rs30 as the entry fee at Elephanta caves, the amount has now increased to Rs40. At the same time, a foreign national will have to pay Rs600 instead of the earlier Rs500 at the same location.In 2016, the ticket price had increased from Rs10 to Rs30 for domestic visitors, and from Rs250 to Rs500 for foreigners, at world heritage sites. For other monuments, the entry fee had surged three-fold, from Rs5 to Rs15, for domestic visitors. Foreign nationals had to pay Rs200 as against the earlier fee of Rs100.Bipin Chandra Negi, deputy superintending archaeologist of ASI’s Mumbai circle, added that those opting for cashless transaction will have to pay a little less. “For world heritage sites, an Indian visitor can pay Rs35 as the entry fee if s/he goes for a cashless transaction, while a foreigner can pay Rs550. For other ticketed monuments, an Indian visitor could pay Rs20 instead of Rs25 if s/he makes a cashless payment, while a foreigner could pay Rs250, instead of a cash transaction of Rs300,” he explained.Another official based at the ASI headquarters in New Delhi said that the the entry fee was increased in line with the rise in prices across every sphere in the current times.

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