ASI monuments in Maharashtra won’t open till July-end

PUNE: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) authorities in Maharashtra said that despite an ASI headquarter order on reopening monuments in India from Monday, those in Maharashtra will remain closed as per the earlier orders from the state.
Monuments in the Mumbai circle, Aurangabad circle and Nagpur circle, will not reopen, at least till the month-end or till further orders from the state government.
An ASI HQ notification recently stated, “All the ASI monuments and site museums shall be opened for public from July 6, 2020, subject to respective state government / district administration guidelines. Visitors are kindly requested to check these guidelines before booking online tickets.”
A senior ASI official in the state told TOI, “We are following a general order by the state chief secretary on June 29, which did not allow such public spaces to open up. Hence, monuments in state will remain closed till further notice.”
Another ASI official said ASI HQ orders state that ASI regional offices have to coordinate with the local government before reopening such public places.
But the June 29 Maharashtra government order had already disallowed opening of such public places till further notice.