Sanctuaries and parks to charge vehicle entry taxes

Sanctuaries and parks to charge vehicle entry taxes
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

PUNE, FEB 20: Visitors to National parks or wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra will now have to cough up vehicle entry tax for their vehicles.

The State has taken a decision to this effect with a view to provide better amenities for nature lovers and tourists by collecting entry tax, said Deputy Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Western Region N.H.N. Shaikh here on Monday.

Besides the vehicle entry tax, individual persons in the vehicles will also have to pay an entry tax. However, persons who come walking or in bullock carts are exempted from it, Shaikh said.

Barring the Sanjay Gandhi National Park at Borivali, all the other National parks and sanctuaries would have a uniform rate of entry tax, he said.

There are a total five National parks and 33 wildlife sanctuaries in the state.

The entry tax to be charged is Rs. 5 for two wheelers, Rs. 20 for medium vehicles like cars and jeeps and Rs. 50 for heavy vehicles like buses, tractors etc.