Overview
- Forest authorities paused the proposed fee overhaul and said existing rates will continue after strong objections from regular morning walkers and seniors.
- Officials said the plan was designed to pay for upkeep and stronger patrolling, and they will draw up a revised tariff with more clarity expected by the end of May.
- The park is moving to digital ticketing to speed entry and track visitors, including a WhatsApp chatbot that managers say will go live in about 10 days.
- The shelved circular sought to raise the annual pre‑dawn walker pass to ₹10,000 from about ₹348 and to lift safari tickets to ₹750 from ₹250, the mini train to ₹300 from ₹100, and the Kanheri Caves bus to ₹300 from ₹100.
- Citizen groups estimate 3,000–5,000 people use the park at dawn and many complained about scarce toilets and guards, while BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyay called the hike unjust and promised to fight it.