The Municipal Corporation has decided to double the professional annual fee. The proposal has been prepared. In the first phase, horse handlers, photographers and people driving prams are being brought under its ambit. If the annual fee is doubled, it will have a direct impact on the common man’s pocket as well.
After its implementation, horse riding on the ridge, photographing and taking children in prams will all become expensive. Tourists and local people will also find it expensive to ride horses on the ridge grounds. The municipal administration has prepared a proposal to increase the annual fee charged from horse owners from Rs 12,000 to Rs 24,000. Sources reveal that the proposal has also been approved. Its burden will fall on the people.
The horsemen are still charging Rs 70 per ride. After increasing the fee, he is also ready to increase the fare per ride with immediate effect. There are 15 horses on the ridge field. Apart from tourists visiting Shimla, local people also take children for horse riding. The horsemen take a short detour on the ridge. People also get their photos taken while sitting on horses, while many take photos of traditional costumes and churches.
It is also proposed to increase the annual fee from the photographer who takes photographs on the ridge ground from Rs 2000 to Rs 4000. Prams carrying small children on the Ridge and Mall Road will also have to pay an annual fee of Rs 1000 instead of Rs 500 to the Municipal Corporation. Sources reveal that preparations are on to implement it from April 1. Corporation Commissioner Commissioner Ashish Kohli said that its process is going on.
