Identity Card mendatory for Ranthambore visitors

Next time you visit the Ranthambhore National Park (RNP), do not forget to carry a valid photo identity card. Park authorities have made it mandatory to physically verify the identity of the tourist in whose name the online booking had been made. A trial run for the new move will start on Friday while the regular and strict checking will start from December 7. Interestingly, the tickets at RNP have already been fully booked till mid-February, next year. "We were getting complaints about the frivolous bulk booking being done by tour operators through the online system. Now we have made it mandatory to physically check that the person, who is entering the park, had done the online booking," Ravi Kumar Surpur, district collector of Sawai Madhopur, said.
Three teams, which include officials from forest, police, revenue and tourism departments, have been formed to check the photo identity cards. "The move will also ensure the security of the park as well as tigers. A team consisting of sub-divisional magistrate, deputy superintendent of police and assistant conservator of forest would oversee and ensure its smooth functioning," Kumar said. Informed sources said that the new move for improving services will not solve the problem of bulk booking by tour operators as they can cancel the bookings on the spot to adjust another tourist.