Bal Bhavan soon to be nerve centre for fun

Bal Bhavan soon to be nerve centre for fun
Thursday January 3 2008 07:18 IST

PREMILA KRISHNAN

BANGALORE: The picturesque Bal Bhavan will soon become a hub of activity with thrilling entertainment games and a theatre for children’s programmes.

The aesthetic beauty of the venue will be highlighted through a musical fountain, traffic park and skating rink. Children can celebrate birthdays amidst special lighting.

One can even venture out for rides in the four pedal boats or chug around the venue in a new toy train.

All these will become operational within six months and transform the serene atmosphere into one of fun, frolic and excitement. The venue will be a self-sufficient amusement park. Families can spend their holidays and weekends with their children under one roof.

The monthly instalment for the private entrant will be Rs 28,000 for each game, Rs 18,750 for theatre, Rs 17,920 for birthday parties and Rs 1,00,000 for boating, which will amount to Rs 19,760,40 for a year and Rs 98,80,200 for five years.

On a daily basis he will have to earn about Rs 5489. According to the agreement reached between Bal Bhavan and ‘Fun Style Amusements’, the latter has to pay Rs 3,00,000 in advance for all 12 systems based on a monthly amount of Rs 28,000 for each game, depending on the number of games installed.

For the theatre a sum of Rs 18,750 has to be paid monthly at a lease amount of Rs 2,25,000 per year. For birthday parties, an annual lease of Rs 2,15,000 at Rs 17,920 per month should be paid in advance.

For boating, an annual amount of Rs 12,00,000 at a monthly amount of Rs 1,00,000. How does the private entrant reimburse the amount he paid to Bal Bhavan and make a profit?

He will have no other choice except to increase the entry fee and ride charges. Many questions are raised if it will spoil the serenity and environment?

Will poor children be denied access due to the entry fee? Will it end up being privatised? Will it give a chance for the private entrants to freeze the agreement which has not clearly stated that the entry fees will not be increased?

“Why should we deprive the poor children? They cannot afford to pay Rs 150 at an amusement park. They should enjoy what the rich kid enjoys. It will have no impact on nature but enhance it and make it a better place.

The idea of amusement in Bal Bhavan was mooted 20 years ago,’’ said Shalini Rajneesh, director of Bal Bhavan.