ASI hikes entry fees to Taj Mahal by 200%

With the cost of everything going up, it is now the turn of the historical monument Taj Mahal in Agra to hike entry fees. The hike has been done by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It has hiked the ticket prices for all monuments in the country by a whopping 200% and this has happened after an interval of 12 years.
The hike for category 'A' monuments, which include World Heritage sites, is from Rs 10 to Rs 30 for Indians and from Rs 250 to Rs 750 for foreigners.
However, visitors to Taj Mahal will have to pay an additional fee that would be collected by Agra Development Authority (ADA). This is termed as 'toll tax' and, as a result of this, the revised ticket rates at the Taj will be Rs 40 (Rs 10 towards toll tax) for Indians and Rs 1,250 (Rs 500 as toll tax) for foreigners.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 16 September 2015.

The new rates proposed by ASI would become applicable from the first week of November because ASI has given a 45-day period for admitting objections or suggestions from the public. If everything goes ass per plans, the new rates would become effective.
Tour operators are worried because, as it is, number of foreign tourists is declining and increase of fees could affect the tourism industry.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

City of Jinan to eliminate all dogs even if they are registered pets and vaccinated

Two foreign tourists killed as Kalka-Shimla toy train derails

Molesters flee bleeding from the clutches of a karate girl in Barasat, West Bengal


Ringo Starr, Beatles drummer, bemoans the decline in the music industry

Lindsay Lohan fails to keep her date with Toronto Film Festival

Kangana Ranaut in Paris for ‘Queen’ hates actors endorsing fairness creams


This is the age of drone warfare - pick and eliminate the jihadists from miles away

RAF readies to strike ISIS in Syria to check flow of refugees into Europe

Russia’s game plan not clear – it sends Pantsir-S missile system to Syria


Bengalis are a politically conscious lot

Rasgulla, the juice-dripping sweet that Bengalis swear by

Bengalis are daydreamers tied to mothers’ apron strings