Morning walk time gets shorter in parks

In bad tidings for morning walkers in the city, especially the late risers, the GHMC has proposed cuting down one hour’s time for them at seven parks including Imliban Park, Indira Park, K. Laxminarayana Yadav Park, J. Vengal Rao Park, Chacha Nehru Park, Krishna Kant Park and A.S. Rao Nagar Park.

It has also decided to charge visitors `10,000 for carrying cameras inside the parks. This apart, the corporation has said it has the right to send anyone out of the park if they caused inconvenience to visitors — which was stated to be bringing in moral policing in a fresh guise.

In August, the management of Indira Park in Hyderabad’s Domalguda erected a banner stating that unmarried couples were not allowed entry. After the picture of the poster surfaced on social media platforms, and many users criticised the move, the management took it down. The officials at that time had stated that the banner was put up by junior officers.

In the latest measure, however, the GHMC without defining the nature of inconvenience, said in tender documents inviting contractors to maintain the parks: “Any activity which will cause inconvenience to visitors will not be allowed.”

In the fresh tenders, the GHMC is restricting time for walkers from 5 am to 8 am, against 5 am to 9 am earlier when they were allowed free entry. Some parks are closing the free entry at 8 am though it is to be kept open till 9 am.

In the tenders, GHMC has proposed collecting an entry fee of `10 from 8 am to 7.30 pm. It collects `10 from those above 12 years of age, `2 from children aged 5 to 12 years.

GHMC has decided to charge `10,000 for cameras, whereas the special chief secretary and HMDA commissioner Arvind Kumar waived it at major parks including NTR Gardens, Lumbini Park and San-jeevaiah Park in October.

GHMC HAS proposed restricting time for walkers from 5 am to 8 am, against 5 am to 9 am currently, when they were allowed free entry. Some parks are shutting free entry at 8 am without any approval.

A GHMC official, requesting anonymity, said the camera fee waiver was only to Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) parks and GHMC would continue charging for cameras. He made it clear that the corporation would throw out not only couples but also any person who the management thinks was causing inconvenience to others.

On cutting down of one hour time for morning joggers, the official said he had been just following the instructions.

HE MADE it clear that the corporation would throw out not only couples but also any person who causing inconvenience to others.