BHUBANESWAR: TOURISTS can now book entry tickets to protected monuments in Odisha online. The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) on Sunday launched e-ticketing facilities for Sun Temple and Archaeological Museum at Konark, Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves and Rajarani temple in Bhubaneswar and Buddhist sites at Ratnagiri and Lalitgiri. Tourists can now log on to www.asi.payumoney.com to book entry tickets to these heritage sites and museum.
Superintending Archaeologist of Bhubaneswar ASI Circle Hemasagar A Naik said the e-ticketing facility will save time of both the tourists and ASI personnel who are involved in dispensing tickets. “The e-tickets are less expensive as compared to the manual ticketing system,” he said.
Foreign tourists can book high-value and general tickets through the website.
Naik said steps are also being taken by the ASI to increase the collection of statues and relics at Konark museum.
The ASI had started e-ticketing facility at Taj Mahal last year and it was decided that online booking for entry will be extended in a phased manner for other ticketed monuments. ASI has 116 ticketed monuments in India of which five are in Odisha. There are 78 protected monuments under ASI in the State including the ticketed sites.
Members of Konark Surakshya Samiti, who had staged demonstrations regarding misappropriation of funds due to manual ticketing, have welcomed the move.