Published on : Tuesday, February 25, 2020
The order, signed by SSP Babloo Kumar, was issued on Sunday, has requested the ASI to make sure that only entry tickets to the Taj should be sold for Monday and the main mausoleum be kept closed.
Also, the order mentions that the ongoing Taj Mahotsav should not be arranged on Monday because of the US President’s visit. The SSP’s order has left the ASI officials in a quandary.
“We cannot stop the entry of the tourists with valid tickets ” said an official.
When questioned, ASI superintending archeologist, ASI (Agra circle), Vasant K Swarankar, explained that tickets are available online and are pre-booked. He also said that it will be quite tough to stop sale of the tickets or the entry of the tourists who have already purchased them.
Quite astonished with the move of district administration, Rajiv Saxena, vice-president of Tourism Guild, Agra, explained that the government should make certain that the visit of VVIPs should not be influencing the trip of common tourists to the monument. They should appreciate the significance of tourism.
He stated that while it is understandable that movement of tourists is restricted during the VVIPs’ visit but “people should not be harassed in the name of security arrangements”. He said, “It’s unfortunate that the movement of golf carts was stopped on Sunday from Trident and elderly tourists were mad e to walk.”
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