BMC to charge Rs 100 per family to view Humboldt Penguins at Byculla zoo

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to charge Rs 100 as entry fee per family to view Humboldt Penguins in the Byculla zoo. The family will include mother, father and two children. A third child will be charged an additional Rs 25. However, for municipal school students and their parents entry will be free. 

The proposal was approved on Saturday in the group leaders meeting at the BMC, chaired by Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, Mayor of Mumbai.

Mayor Mahadeshwar said that the implementation of entry fee for the penguin enclosure will take time as the proposal will have to be approved by the standing committee and the Corporation. 

Interestingly BJP corporator from Malad, Sangeeta Gyanmurti Sharma, has demanded that the  entry to view the penguins should not be charged. Sharma has written a letter to the Municipal Commissioner seeking waiver of any kind of fee to view penguins.

According to the sources, between March 17 and 31, over 2 lakh visitors have viewed Humboldt Penguins.

Meanwhile, the monthly pass for morning walkers who come to the zoo every day has been increased from Rs 30 to Rs 150. Yashwant Jadhav, local corporator and leader of the house, said that morning walkers come with vehicles and park in the zoo parking premises.