Lok Sabha Question No. 142 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: Increase in Entry Fee for Taj Mahal
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.142 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.4.2016 VAISAKHA 5, 1937 (SAKA)

## INCREASE IN ENTRY FEE FOR TAJ MAHAL

## 142. DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI MOHITE PATE VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  increase  the  entry  fee  to  see  the  Taj Mahal and other centrally protected monuments in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for the hike;
- (c) whether the Government has consulted tourism bodies general public before the proposed hike;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not the reasons thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  a  single  entry  pass  for  all  the monuments in the country to encourage tourists to visit different monuments and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE, CULTURE AND TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) AND MINISTER OF STATE, CIVIL AVIATION

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) The entry fee for ticketed monuments including Taj Mahal has been increased with effect from 1.4.2016.
- (b) The entry fee structure applicable at centrally protected ticketed monuments is at  Annexure.  The  entry  fee  rates  were  last  revised  in  the  year  2001  and thereafter  no  hike  was  imposed,  which  was  pointed  by  the  Controller  and Auditor  General  (CAG)  during  Performance  Audit  and  recommended  for revision of entry fee.
- (c)&(d) Before  effecting  the  revised  rate  of  entry  fee,  a  preliminary  notification  was published on 31.7.2015, calling objections/suggestions from all concerned and from general public.  Before issuing final notification on 31.3.2016, consultation with  tour  operators  and  Ministry  of  Tourism  was  taken  up,  in  addition suggestions/comments received from individuals were also considered.
- (e) No such proposal is under consideration.

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 142 FOR 25.4.2016

Entry fee Structure at Centrally Protected Ticketed Monuments effective from 1.4.2016

| Category A (World Heritage Monuments)   | (i) Citizen of India and visitors from SAARC and BIMSTEC countries and overseas citizens of India   | Rs.30 per head     |
|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|
| Category A (World Heritage Monuments)   | (ii) Others (All Nationals other than from countries mentioned above)                               | Rs.500 per head    |
| Category A (World Heritage Monuments)   | (iii) Others (as ii above)                                                                          | *Rs.750/- per head |

| Category B (Other ticketed Monuments)   | (i) Citizen of India and visitors from SAARC and BIMSTEC countries and overseas citizens of India   | Rs.15/-per head    |
|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|
| Category B (Other ticketed Monuments)   | (ii) Others (All Nationals other than from countries mentioned above)                               | Rs.200/-per head   |
| Category B (Other ticketed Monuments)   | (iii) Others (as ii above)                                                                          | *Rs.300/- per head |