Zoo tickets to be made available online from Jan 1

Kolkata: Those who are fed up with the long queues outside the Alipore Zoological Garden may find this to be a big reason to rejoice. The entry tickets will be available online from the next month as the zoo authorities are planning to overhaul its ticketing system.

Kolkatans would no longer require to stand in queues at the ticket counters outside the Alipore zoo as one can have his/her ticket at the click of a mouse once the new system is put in place. Online ticketing system will not only be beneficial for the visitors but it would help the zoo authorities to manage the crowd as well, particularly in the winter season when it sees a huge surge of visitors.

It often becomes difficult for the zoo authorities also to manage the crowd especially during the winter season when it becomes a favourite destination, particularly for children. Basking in the sun during this time of the year is a common picture inside the zoo premises. During Christmas and New Year, the zoo witnesses record footfall.

According to the authorities, software testing has been going on and if everything goes as per plan, the system will be introduced from early next month. The price of the ticket will remain unchanged even after the new system is introduced. The entry fees for children is Rs 10 while for the others it stands at Rs 30.

Unlike the current system in which the tickets are sold across the counter and are valid for the day, the online tickets will have no validity deadline till it is produced at the gate.

Visitors will be required to produce a printed copy of the tickets with the QR code or display it on the cellphone for it to be read by the scanner.

When contacted, Alipore Zoological Garden director AK Samanta said that discussion has taken place with senior BSNL officials regarding the same.

If it is approved, the new ticketing system can be introduced any day. However, there is a plan to start the new system from January 1. The visitors can book their tickets by visiting the zoo's website, the director said.