Konark bandh to protest hike in entry fee for Sun temple

Konark: Protesting against the reintroduction of increased entry fee for Sun temple here, the Konark Surakhya Samiti members on Friday locked the ticket counter at the monument and called for a Konark bandh.

The members of the Samiti sat in front of the entrance of the Sun temple demanding rollback of the increased entry fee.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which looks after the monument, increased the entry fee for the Sun temple from Rs 10 to Rs 30 in case of domestic visitors and from Rs 250 to Rs 500 for foreign visitors.

Earlier, the Surakhya Samiti had protested against the hike one month back following which the Collector had put the implementation of the ASI decision on hold.

However, the new entry fee was reintroduced without any discussion with anyone sparking displeasure among the Surakhya Samiti members.

Meanwhile, shops and businesses in Konark have downed their shutters after a bandh call was given by the samiti over the Sun temple entry fee issue.