Steep Entry Fee Hikes at Cubbon Park Bal Bhavan Spark Public Outcry

Families and visitors in Bengaluru have raised serious concerns over steep tariff hikes and poorly maintained amenities at Jawahar Bal Bhavan in Cubbon Park, stating that the public facility is rapidly becoming unaffordable for economically weaker households.

Under the revised rate card, general entry charges have increased substantially. Entry for adults, which was previously Rs 20, has been raised to Rs 50. Tickets for children above 10 years have increased from Rs 10 to Rs 20, while children aged five and above are now charged Rs 10. Free entry, which previously applied to all children under 10 years of age, is now restricted only to children under five.

With the revised rates, a standard outing easily costs around Rs 500 for a family of three. In addition to the gate fee, key attractions such as the toy train and boating require an extra fee of Rs 50 per person, while peripheral rides cost Rs 30 each.

Visiting parents expressed frustration over the rising expenses paired with poor service. Visitors noted that they are billed at the entrance and then charged separately for every individual ride, even while some games remain non-functional. Others pointed out that an outing that previously cost between Rs 50 and Rs 100 has turned into an expensive trip involving long queues and heavy crowds for the limited rides that are still operational.

G.R. Shivashankar, president of the Karnataka Trade Union Centre, submitted a formal representation raising concerns about administrative mismanagement and privatised operations within the institution, which functions under the Department of Women and Child Development. The petition stated that the foundational purpose of Bal Bhavan is being defeated as rising costs put the venue out of reach for working-class families, calling on the state government to intervene.

A Bal Bhavan official defended the price revision, explaining that departmental allocations must meet multiple operational overheads, including staff salaries, electricity bills, and basic sanitation. The official noted that operating several mechanical rides requires fuel, making fare revisions unavoidable following steep rises in petrol and diesel prices. The official added that traffic park operations were temporarily suspended due to recurring battery failures.