Chandigarh, March 4 -- hillary.victor@htlive.com

Organising concerts, expos and fairs in the city is about to get much more expensive, as the UT Estate Office has decided to dramatically increase the booking rates for the grounds in Sectors 25 and 34 from Rs.30,000 to a staggering Rs.5 lakh per day.

The new rate will apply only for commercial events with gatherings exceeding 5,000 people, while other events will continue to be booked at Rs.30,000 per day.

The major hike has already been proposed to the chief secretary for approval, which is expected within the week.

The move comes after the administration decided to shift big gatherings from the Sector 34 exhibition ground to the rally ground in Sector 25, a venue previously used for ...