Taj Mahal and Agra Fort will be reopened for tourists from September 21, the District Administration announced on Monday. While only 5,000 people have been permitted for visitation daily at Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort will allow only 2,500. Covid-19 guidelines including social distancing, mask wearing have been made available to the public.
The reopening of the monuments – which had been closed for public since March 17 – comes amid the process of ‘Unlock 4’ in Uttar Pradesh. Other historical monuments like Etmauddaula’s tomb, Sikandra, and Fatehpur Sikri had been reopened from September 1.
With the decision of reopening Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, people associated with the tourism industry are hopeful that the Covid-19 triggered economic crisis will be somewhat curtailed.
The central government had ordered for all monuments to be reopened amid Unlock 4, but the final decision was left on the State governments.
The Uttar Pradesh government issued new guidelines for Unlock 4 on August 30, allowing open-air theatres, sports, religious activities to be reopened in the state. An order issued by the UP Chief Secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari stated that despite certain relaxations, lockdown will continue in the containment zones and those violating the guidelines will face legal action.
Social, sports, religious, cultural gatherings will be allowed with a maximum capacity of 100 people from September 21 with mandatory wearing of face masks with social distancing measures. A maximum of 30 people will be allowed in marriage functions while not more than 20 people will be allowed to attend last rites.
Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, auditoriums, will not be allowed to reopen in the state as of now, however, open-air theatres will be allowed to function from September 21. The guidelines also mention that no lockdown will be implemented by district administration outside the containment zones at the local level.
(With inputs from IANS)
Comments
0 comment