Ebe ndị njem na-amalite imeghe ọzọ na India

1. The Taj Mahal was closed to tourists on April 4, when the second wave began to rise.
2. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to reopen the monuments under its supervision as the second wave recedes across the country.
3. The final decision has been left to the respective state governments and district magistrates under whose jurisdiction such monuments are located.

Agra District Magistrate Prabhu N Singh confirmed that he received the notification from the ASI and forwarded it to the state government, requesting guidelines for when the monument reopens. The revised guidelines are expected to arrive on Tuesday.

Taj Mahal had remained closed to tourists for nearly 200 days in 2020-21 before reopening on April 4. The closure massively hit local tourism and hospitality sectors.

Agra’s prominent hoteliers told India Today TV that the hotel industry has been on its knees for the past 16-17 months. Hotel employees are barely scraping by without work. They complained that neither the Centre nor state government took notice of their plight.

Domestic tourists may return to Agra if the Taj Mahal reopens on June 16. This is expected to revive local economy in Agra, which is heavily dependent on Taj Mahal tourism.