ASI monuments reopen in Delhi, masks mandatory

Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb and a host of or centrally-protected monuments in Delhi were reopened for visitors on Monday after being shut for over three months due to COVID-19 crisis, officials said.

All guidelines, including social distancing and sanitisation measures, will be followed at se herit sites. Wearing of masks will be mandatory and one will be allowed to enter without it, an official said.

re are 173 monuments in Delhi protected under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It includes three UNESCO World Herit Sites -- Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar -- and Safdarjung Tomb, Purana Quila, Tughlaqab Fort and Firoz Shah Kotla.

"Delhi's ASI-protected monuments have been reopened for public as per directions of Culture Ministry. However, Red Fort, which is closed every Monday on regular days, will remain closed today," official said.

Visitors can book tickets in eir of two slots -- foreon slot, which starts in morning and ends at on; and afteron slot from on to 6 pm. In each slot, a maximum of 1,500 visitors will be allowed, according to official.

On regular days, official said, Red Fort gets an aver daily footfall in range of 8,000-12,000; Humayun's Tomb gets 6,000-10,000 and Qutub Minar gets 8,000-10,000. However, Humayun's Tomb attracts more foreign visitors, y said.

As many as 3,691 centrally-protected monuments and archaeological sites maintained by ASI were shut from March 17 due to vel coronavirus pandemic.