Kendrapara: In a bid to provide noise-free and eco-friendly commuting facilities to visitors, especially the elderly and the disabled, the state forest department has introduced solar-powered auto-rickshaw service at Bhitarkanika National Park, said Bimal Prasanna Acharya, DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove (Forest) and Wildlife Division.
According to official sources, three solar-powered auto-rickshaws have been purchased at a cost of Rs 4.97 lakh from a Bhubaneswar-based agency. The forest department has fixed a fare of Rs 20 for each passenger for a visit to Dangamala crocodile scheme area within Bhitarkanika National Park.
Tourists can avail the five-seater rickshaw service from Monday when the national park reopens for visitors after remaining closed for three months in view of the crocodile nesting season.
The authorities have made it mandatory for visitors to bring an identity proof for entry into the park while those visiting the park via water route would have to wear life jackets and boat service providers have been asked to equip their boats with lifebuoys. As many as 27 boats have license to operate their boats under Kanika range.
The accommodation price has gone up since April 1. For a night’s stay at Sundari Bhawan, one has to pay Rs 1,500 while earlier the tariff was Rs 950. Likewise, the Banni suite would now cost Rs 2,000 as against the earlier price of Rs 1,400 while the price for a stay at Hental Bhaban has been increased from Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,500, said Kanika ranger Akhaya Kumar Nayak.
Forest officials said the revision of lodging and boarding charges was necessary. “The hike in accommodation price had to be made for better maintenance of the government-owned bungalows,” said the DFO. PNN
