Visva-Bharati University has issued a strongly worded press statement today warning against allegations of ticket black marketing relating to its Heritage Walk.
Recently, allegations surfaced on social media claiming that tickets for the Heritage Walk, priced at Rs 300, were being sold for as much as Rs 2,000.
“It has come to our notice that certain sections of the social and legacy media, as well as certain individuals with vested interests, are spreading a canard regarding the Heritage Walks being organised by the university. It is being maliciously suggested that a black market for Heritage Walk tickets has developed, with tickets being sold at highly inflated prices. It is also being insinuated, without a shred of evidence, that university officials are involved in this,” the release stated.
In this connection, the university has issued two clarifications.
First, the University stated that Heritage Walk tickets are issued exclusively from its Rabindra Bhavan counter at fixed rates. At present, there is no other authorised means of obtaining tickets through any agency or individual. If visitors procure tickets through any other source, the university cannot be held responsible. However, if such situations have indeed arisen, the university has expressed concern and advised all interested visitors to purchase tickets only and directly from the Rabindra Bhavan counter. It also indicated that online ticketing may be introduced within the next couple of months.
Secondly, the university highlighted the immense popularity and success of the Heritage Walk initiative.
This, it said, is evident from the written feedback received from visitors and from the overwhelming demand, which has compelled the varsity to increase the number of Heritage Walk days from one to three, with plans for further expansion. The statement alleged that this success has generated resentment among certain detractors, who are attempting to tarnish the university’s image through propaganda.
“The university wishes to make clear that we shall protect and uphold the UNESCO World Heritage status of the institution against all such futile efforts to besmirch the good work undertaken over the past year. Several more projects aimed at the betterment of the institution are on the anvil and will be implemented, irrespective of the malicious intent of habitual mischief-makers. Despite such attempts, Visva-Bharati is poised to go from strength to strength in the months ahead.”