Outfit suspends stir over entry fee hike in Odisha’s Konark

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 8: 

Odisha’s Konark Suraksha Samiti (KSS), which had been protesting since past three days demanding rollback of entre fee hike in Konark Sun temple, today postponed its agitation for 15 days following an assurance from district Collector.

The breakthrough was reached following a meeting between the Sub collector and the agitators today.

Briefing reporters, the district Collector said that the old entre fee would remain in force for the next 15 days. Besides, the administration would work towards reaching a permanent solution in the period.

Earlier in the day today, the agitators locked the ticket counter and staged a demonstration in front of the temple entrance denying thousands of visitors a glimpse of the 13th century architectural marvel.

Notably, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had last month announced three-fold hike for domestic visitors and 100 per cent for foreign tourists for entry into the historic monuments, including Konark temple, across the country.

The ticket price was increased from Rs 10 to Rs 30 for the domestic visitor, while the entry fee for foreign tourists was doubled from Rs 250 to Rs 500 subsequently.

The KSS, however, locked the main gate of the temple and protested in front of it demanding a roll back. The district administration had put the implementation of the hike on hold for a month and had assured them to look into the matter.

The organisation resumed its demonstration yesterday after the administration did not roll back the ticket fare.  Konark bandh was observed yesterday to press for the demand and the temple entrance and ticket counter were locked down.