ASI & Centre-protected monuments reopen after nearly 100 days; SOP & Covid guidelines here

After a shutdown of more than 100 days, all architectural monuments protected by  Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) are rey to be open to public from Monday onwards, anunced Ministry of Culture.  decision to open up monuments was taken by Centre in co-ordination with ASI in a meeting last week, according to Union Culture Minister Prahl Singh Patel. This decision comes even as country's COVID tally inches closer to 7 lakh mark. 

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While all national monuments open up for public, Agra's historical monuments like Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Akbar tomb and ors will continue to remain closed until furr orders. According to District Magistrate of Agra, Prabhu N Singh, se monuments fall in 'buffer zone' areas; hence, it will t be opened to public despite being closed for three months.

SOP & Guidelines

According to SOP issued by Centre, only those monuments and museums which are in n-containment zone will be allowed to open up. Along with this, ministration is also doing away with physical sale of tickets, all tickets will be issued through e-mode only. Even mode of payment in parking lots, cafeterias would be accepted only digitally.

re will also be a cap on number of visitors in monuments, along with strict compliance of social distancing, use of masks, hand hygiene, rmal scanning etc. All special sound and light shows will be suspended in monuments and group photography will also remain suspended.

Meanwhile, eatables inside monuments will t be allowed and cafeterias would also be limited to serving only bottled water inside premises. 

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