Taraporewala Aquarium, located at Marine Drive in Mumbai, is the country's oldest aquarium and one of the city's main attractions as it hosts marine and freshwater fishes. It was re-opened after renovation on March 3 this year.
Mumbai-based RTI activist Mansoor Darvesh had filed a query with the Fisheries department seeking to know the total amount spent by it on the Aquarium's renovation, along with the monthly income from selling tickets and the profit earned in the first seven months of its functioning.
Besides, a total revenue of Rs 4,55,71,360 was collected from the visitors from March to September 2015, as per the reply to the RTI query.
Since its reopening, the Aquarium's entry fees has been doubled to Rs 60 for adults and Rs 30 for children and students. There are additional charges for carrying still and video cameras.
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The RTI response also stated that from March 3, total 8,50,239 people visited the Aquarium in seven months, including 6,13,506 adult visitors and 2,36,733 children.
"The government should seriously consider decreasing the entry fees of the Aquarium so that people, even from the lower strata of society, are able to visit it and learn new things," he said.
"I have myself seen parents standing outside the Aquarium and sending their children inside only because they cannot afford to spend on their entry fees," he added.