As per an Archaeological Survey of India order issued on Monday, the Taj Mahal and all other centrally protected monuments, museums, and sites, which were closed around two months ago in the light of the second wave of Covid-19, will be reopened on June 16.
“Considering the prevailing situation, it has been decided that all the Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites and Museums (under ASI) shall be opened from 16.06.2021,” MoS for Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel said in an order.
An ASI official said visitors will be able to book entry tickets online, while adding that no offline booking facilities will be available.
‘Appropriate guidelines and SOPs issued by Union and states governments, ministries and departments will be scrupulously followed while regulating the flow of visitors’, the order said. The ASI order has assured that the opening of the monuments will be in strict compliance with the executive orders issued by authorities.
"We will maintain social distancing among the visitors and sanitization of the monuments premises will be done thrice in a day. The body temperature will be checked through a thermal thermometer. Besides, the shoes of the tourists would be properly sanitized," said Dr Vasant Kumar Swarnkar, Superintending Archaeologist, Agra Circle ASI.
"Tourists would not be allowed to touch any object inside the Taj Mahal and other monuments and sites. They have to follow social distancing norms while sitting as well," he added.
The reopening of Taj Mahal is expected to attract domestic tourists and help revive the local economy of Agra, which is heavily dependent upon the Taj Mahal tourism.
The government had ordered closure of all centrally protected monuments and museums, including Taj Mahal, Red Fort and Ajanta Caves back in April 15, as a precaution towards the fast spreading second wave of Covid-19.