HPCA imposes fee for stadium visits- Locals and tourists hassled

By: Aakriti Mahajan

Dharamshala: Sitting at 1457 meters above sea level, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium at Dharamshala is widely known as one of the most picturesque cricket stadiums in the world. Every day, hundreds of tourists throng the stadium to experience its vivacity and splendid construction. But, with a new move from HPCA to impose visitors' fee of Rs 20 from March this year has hassled the tourists and the local community.

A board which shows the newly imposed visitors fee near HPCA Stadium 

in Dharamshala. (image: Aakriti Mahajan

According to officials at HPCA, the move was meant to avoid locals unnecessarily using the stadium premises and destroying the property of stadium. With imposing of a nominal fee of Rs 20, the HPCA authorities said that they have been successful in avoiding locals lazing around in the stadium premises for hours. However, it appears that it has affected the influx of tourists to the stadium as well.

According to Vipin, a Supervisor at the HPCA stadium, imposing of fees for visiting the stadium is essential to avoid unwanted locals who used to come and laze around for hours in the stadium premises. According to him, they were several instances where such people destroying the chairs of the stadium. Moreover, the visitors fee has turned out to be a new revenue source for the upkeep of the stadium. “With the imposing of fees, we have been able to get enough revenue to keep a cleaner stadium especially by using it for cleaning washrooms and to provide other services to the visitors.” added Vipin.

However, the move has affected the local people and tourists a lot. “It was our usual place to have a chit chat with friends, but since it’s chargeable now, we don’t have any place to sit and spend time with friends”, said Suchita, a student at the nearby Government College in Dharamshala.

Baldev ji, a vendor outside HPCA stadium telling how the stadium fees has affected the influx of tourists and their business

The influx of tourists has considerably reduced  according to the street vendors outside the stadium. “The number of tourists have gone down very much compared to the past. Tourists have become a bit reluctant now to pay fees to see a place that is built for public.” said Baldev, a street vendor outside the stadium.

However, the stadium authorities believes the move to implement visitors' fee is reasonable. “The decision to impose fees is not irrational. We do not want stadium to change into a public park. We want responsible citizens and locals to visit the stadium and value the property of the stadium. The imposing of fees was essential due to this reason.” said Manuj Sharma, operational manager of HPCA stadium.