TBM Staff - Mumbai The Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) has banned the newly-introduced Cruiser safari vehicles for resort owners and tour agents.
These nine-seater Cruisers, a replacement for the 22-seater old canters, will now be available for locals from Chandrapur only. The ban came into force on March 2. The park has six Cruisers with all of them operating from the Mohurli entry gate, reports Vijay Pinjankar for TOI.
Chief conservator of forest (CCF) and TATR field director Jitendra Ramgaonkar said, “When we made these Cruisers available to everyone online, these were booked within minutes allegedly by resort owners. There was no room for those who came calling to my office for a berth.”
Ramgaonkar added, “The facility has been started with a good intention to benefit all but it seems it was misused by hiring agents in Chandrapur, depriving common tourists of an entry. Hence, we were left with no choice but to impose restrictions.”
However, stakeholders said that earlier one canter was made available online. Regarding the issue, Ramgaonkar said, “When one canter was available online, the same issues cropped up and common tourists could not book it. Yet, we will consider putting one or two Cruisers online soon.”
In response to grievances voiced by the local community, Tadoba has prohibited resort owners and safari/tour agents from bookings Cruisers. These safari vehicles are in demand owing to the economic cost of INR 500 per person.
As per the new rule, locals from Chandrapur can book Cruisers from 11am to 2pm at the field director’s office on Mul Road in Chandrapur. From 3pm to 5pm, locals running home stays can do the bookings by visiting the office on a first-come-first served basis. One home stay owner will be able to book only six seats per day.
