JAIPUR: An overhaul in the booking system of Ranthambore
Tiger Reserve (RTR) in
Sawai Madhopur is in the offing. Visitors will now be allowed to book tickets for the tiger safari from amongst the 25% offline quota from any
e-mitra.
At present 75% of safari is booked online in advance, while 25% is offline booking and is done at Shilpgram, a gate situated outside the park. The 25% quota is for tourists who turn up suddenly without prior bookings. Tickets from e-mitra can also be booked in advance. “The move has been taken to maintain transparency. Offline booking at tiger reserve is done by a private firm using its own software. Department of Information Technology (DOIT) has already developed a special software for booking. The decision has been taken to discourage the existing pattern,” said a senior forest official at RTR.
To check online booking fraud, forest department has decided to open the online booking daily at 10am, instead of 12 midnight. “Few agents at RTR book safari tickets using modern software. Moreover, the booking doesn’t start at 12 midnight, due to which tourist cannot book their tickets on their own. Agents are aware about the exact timing of online booking opening. The new system would bring in transparency,” added the official.
The department has also increased advance booking period for safaris from three months to one year. On cancellation of online booking, refund will be given to the tourist within 10 days. In current situation, the tourist have to wait minimum for one month as refund is done only after receiving report from DOIT.
The recent amendments will come into force from September 15. “There is increasing interest in the RTR and efforts are being made to set up a transparent system to discourage black-marketing. This would also give a boost in revenue generation,” the official said.
It was further informed, in past, the revenue generation model of Ranthambore over the year has helped facilitate upgradation of infrastructure in the park including installation of solar panels. This has eased the hardships faced by forest guards to a large extent. E-patrolling, installing wireless sets and improving connectivity, improved tracks for guard patrolling and replenishing 100 waterholes, are some of the additional facilities at RTR. Moreover, Rs five crores from RTR’s revenue has been set aside to improve infrastructure at Kaila Devi Sanctuary.
75% of the safari is booked online
