Hyderabad halts Lumbini Park laser show
HYDERABAD: The laser show at Lumbini Park, one of Hyderabad’s popular tourist attractions, has remained suspended for the past two months, leaving visitors disappointed.
Tourists visiting the city usually combine a visit to the Buddha statue in Hussain Sagar with the laser show at Lumbini Park. Until recently, the park hosted one show every evening from Monday to Friday and two shows on Saturdays and Sundays. The suspension has affected a large number of visitors.
Officials said the interruption has also impacted a key source of revenue for the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA). Sources said administrative negligence contributed to the prolonged closure.
Contractor’s dues reach nearly ₹4 crore
According to officials, the contractor operating the laser show failed to make payments as required under the agreement, leading to the suspension.
Sources said the outstanding dues exceeded the security deposit and accumulated to nearly ₹4 crore. Officials of the Buddha Purnima Project under HMDA allegedly failed to recover the lease amount on time, resulting in the arrears.
Visitors pay ₹80 per ticket for the laser show. Under the contract, the operator was required to pay ₹15 lakh per month to HMDA, with the lease amount increasing by 10 per cent every year. Sources said the contractor was earning around ₹30 lakh to ₹35 lakh a month.
The contractor, who secured the agreement in 2020, initially made payments on time but later began paying only part of the lease amount, with officials reportedly accepting the delayed and partial payments. The dues eventually rose to nearly ₹4 crore, following which the laser show was stopped.
Sources added that outstanding rents have also accumulated from contractors operating commercial spaces at Lumbini Park, NTR Gardens, Sanjeevaiah Park and Necklace Road, allegedly because of poor rent collection.
Officials promise early resumption
Rohit Reddy Gopidi, who recently assumed charge as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for the Buddha Purnima Project, said the issue had come to his notice.
He said discussions were under way with the contractor to recover the pending dues and that steps were being taken to resume the laser show for visitors at the earliest.
