Under the tatkal scheme, advance bookings can be made a day before at ranthambore by paying double the usual charge
Ranthambore Tiger Reserves's (RTR) ‘Tatkal' scheme, which was initiated from October 1, for tiger sightings in the forest seems to be already a major hit with tourists. After the scheme was launched, the forest department has seen a revenue generation of 5.70 lakh till date.
Such is the impact of the scheme that several other states are studying the RTR model to check the feasibility to implement it, which have tiger reserves and see a rush during peak seasons as well as holidays. According to sources, the Tatkal scheme was started post an international tourist wrote to Rajasthan State Government complaining about how he could not book tiger safari online as they were all booked despite having booked his flight to reach the forest. YK Sahu, Field Director of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve affirmed that the scheme was working smoothly and from October 1 to October 11 there had already been 57 trips booked under Tatkal scheme thereby generating an additional revenue of 5.70 Lakh. “This money is collected under the Tiger reserve development fees that will be used for wildlife conservation as well as welfare of the community living in the forest,” he said.
Under the scheme tourists who suddenly make plans to visit India's most famous tiger reserve- Ranthambore or find online booking full need not be dejected as they will get to book a Tatkal jungle safari whose booking has to be made one day in advance and will have to pay Rs 10,000 per gypsy in which a maximum of only six tourists can fit, per safari. “Apart from this Tatkal fees one will also have to pay the regular park fees that costs around Rupees 4500,” said a forest official adding that it will also bring a stop to several malpractices by agents who used to charge tourists who could not secure booking a bomb for jungle safari. According to Sahu there are around 10 gyspy that have been kept aside for this scheme. “It was possible to implement this scheme as currently the number of vehicles being allowed inside Ranthambore tiger reserve were well within the carrying capacity to ensure least disturbance to the wildlife,” he said.
Dharmendra Khandal, a conservation biologist with Tiger Watch an NGO working in RTR said “There is no harm in the Tatkal scheme and the money being generated should be used for conservation activities. There is also a need to provide free safari for the local students who cannot afford it as well as there should also be subsidy on the park fees for students visiting from across the country,” he said.
However not all feel that this was required. A senior forest official from Kanha National Park said that even they had proposed a similar system for Kanha as well as Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh to not disappoint the tourists and handle the rush but it has yet not been approved by the state government.
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