Rajiv Park open for parties, film shoots for rent

DASARI SRINIVASA RAO
|Vijayawada

Those looking for a nice spot to conduct an outdoor birthday celebration, wedding reception or a film shoot in Vijayawada have one more option now — the Rajiv Gandhi Municipal Corporation Park.

The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) recently decided to make the Rajiv Gandhi Park, which had been renovated spending Rs.6.56 crore, available for rent for parties and shootings.

The rent will be fixed based on the programme. The VMC plans to implement the decision from January.The VMC standing committee chaired by Mayor Rayana Bhagya Lakshmi unanimously passed the resolution to commercialise the Rajiv Gandhi Park the other day. The standing committee has also approved collecting charges for school students’ visits, Yoga practice and walking. Partly lawn group meetings and gatherings will be allowed for a minimum rent of Rs.5,000 to a maximum of Rs 10,000.

As per the VMC Horticultural Department, lawn group meetings and gatherings will be allowed in the park from 9 am to 2 pm.

The rent for the same will be Rs. 5,000 and in the evening, the charge will be Rs. 8,000. For a full day, that is from 9 am to 9.30 pm, the rent is fixed at Rs.10,000, officials said. For movie shoots, Rs.10,000 will be charged per day.

Meanwhile, for video shooting like TV serials and short films (commercials) the fixed rent per day is Rs. 5,000. For video shooting of parties and functions, Rs.1,000 will be collected per day.

The charges for school trips have also been fixed. In the case of private schools, the normal rate per head is Rs.10. If the schools take advance permission through a letter from the headmaster, then 50 per cent concession will be allowed. However, if VMC schools take advance permission through a letter from the headmaster, free entry will be permitted.

The VMC officials took a decision on rent after holding a series of discussions, and then put the matter before the standing committee.

After conducting a discussion, the standing committee approved collecting rents.
The VMC renovated the Rajiv Gandhi Park spending Rs.6.56 crore, of which 2.56 crore was from the 15th Finance Commission grant.

The remaining Rs.4 crore was taken from the VMC general fund.

The VMC has also finalised visitors’ timings. Yoga practice and walking will be allowed from 5.30 am to 8.30 am only. For Yoga, the membership fee per month is Rs.300. In the case of students, this fee will be exempted. Also, parking fees for four-wheelers is Rs.1,000 per month, and for two-wheelers, it will be Rs.500.

Besides, the VMC has designed rules and regulations to keep the Rajiv Gandhi Park clean and green.

Everyone should use dustbins and not litter. All visitors should follow security rules and regulations and cooperate with security guards. The VMC made it clear that the park’s greenery and articles should not be damaged. Those who indulge in such activities would be fined.