Patna, March 29: Come April, a visit to the zoo would be costlier by 50 per cent for adults. However, they would not have to spend extra on children on normal days.

The Patna zoo authorities have decided to increase the price of entry tickets and its different facilities from April 1. An adult would now have to pay Rs 15 for an entry ticket. Its existing price is Rs 10. But the rate of entry ticket for kids (3 to 12 years) has been kept unchanged at Rs 5.

The ticket price revision comes after almost seven years. Zoo director Abhay Kumar said: “The rate revision was overdue as the last revision was made in 2004.”

Under the new system, the concept of family ticket, which used to come at Rs 20 for two adults and two kids, would be done away with.

“We want to keep the type of tickets to the minimum as it would expedite the process of issuing tickets. That is why the decision to do away the family ticket was taken,” Kumar told The Telegraph.

The rate of special tickets, which carry a premium price tag, too, has been revised upward. Now on, an entry ticket on New Year’s Day for an adult would cost Rs 40 instead of the existing Rs 25.

“The rate for kids’ ticket for this special day has been revised and would come for Rs 20 instead of the existing Rs 15,” zoo deputy director Praveen Kumar said.

For a ride on the zoo train, an adult would have to pay Rs 15 instead of Rs 10. Kids will be able to enjoy the ride for Rs 10, Rs 5 more than the existing price.

Boating, too, would become a costly affair. A 30-minute boat ride for two persons would cost Rs 75. Now, it costs Rs 50. For four persons, the ride would come for Rs 90. The existing rate is Rs 60.

Adults would not have to pay extra for visiting the zoo aquarium, as the zoo authorities have not altered the entry ticket price of Rs 5. But kids would be charged more. Instead of Rs 3, they would have to pay Rs 5.

In case of children’s park, the ticket rates for both kids and adults have been revised. While kids would be charged Rs 5 instead of the existing Rs 2, adults would have to pay Rs 10, double the price now.

The most drastic revision has been made in the charges for commercial videography. The revised rate is Rs 3,000 per day. Film shooting would cost Rs 15,000 daily. Videography for personal use, however, would cost just Rs 100.

“The existing ticket structure under this category was based on the type of camera one was using. Under the revised scheme, the division has been done on the basis of purpose of videography,” said the deputy director of the zoo.

The zoo director said a proposal has been sent to the state government for introducing a system which would allow reimbursement of one-fourth of the total revenue generated here to the zoo for maintenance. The state government has not taken any decision on the proposal so far.

At present, the revenue generated by the zoo goes to the government coffers and the zoo has to depend on funds provided by the state government under different heads.