News Analysis India

Tag: monuments closed

  • Monuments in Delhi and Bihar shut for two weeks due to rise in Covid cases

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: With sudden rise in positive Covid cases, the Archeology Survey of India (ASI) on Thursday decided to shut all its monuments, museums, and protected sites in states including Delhi and Bihar for about two weeks as a precautionary measure and to prevent spreading of infection.

    The centrally protected heritage sites including Red Fort, Qutub Minar and Humayun’s tomb in the national capital will remain out of bounds of visitors till January 20. However, the historical sites under the jurisdiction of ASI will be closed till January 21.

    In Delhi, there are about 170 historical structures with ASI and only 13 such as Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, Safdar Jung’s Tomb, Purana Quila, and Hauz Khas have paid entry. Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and Humayun’s Tomb are among the most visited sites in the city as they receive approximately 10,000 visitors every day.

    NK Pathak, director (monument) on Thursday issued a series of orders for closure of sites in states in accordance with the directions of the local administration.

    All protected monuments and heritage sites in West Bengal have been closed till January 15.

    Similarly, buildings of historical importance maintained by the ASI in Tamil Nadu on January 9 but Mamallapuram and Tiger Headed Caves will be shut for three days starting Friday (January 7).  

    Karnataka’s monument will be closed during weekend curfew between –January 8 and 16.  

     “All the directives or standard operating procedures (SoPs) issued by the state or district administration shall be scrupulously adhered to in the matter,” said the orders.

    The ASI manages and protects 3,691 monuments including 143 are ticketed sites in the country.

    To curtail health risks posed by the coronavirus, all ASI sites were also closed first in March 2020 and later in April 2021 with the advent of the second wave of Covid.

  • Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, other ASI monuments closed till May 15

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: With the number of positive Covid cases increasing at an alarming rate in India, the Archeology Survey of India (ASI) on Thursday decided to shut all its monuments, museums, and protected sites including Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar and Humayun’s tomb till May 15 as a precautionary measure.

    “Due to prevailing Covid situation, it has been decided to close all the centrally protected monuments/ sites and museums under Archaeological Survey of India with immediate effect and till 15 May 2021 or until further orders,” said the order issued by NK Pathak, director (monuments), ASI.

    Mughal fort palace Red Fort in Delhi has been closed since January 19 after samples of dead crows collected from the site were found positive for avian influenza.

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    To curtail health risks posed by the coronavirus, all ASI sites were also closed last year on March 17.

    The ASI manages and protects 3,691 monuments including 143 which are ticketed sites in the country.

    In Delhi, there are about 170 historical structures with ASI and only 13 such as Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, Safdar Jung’s Tomb, Purana Quila, and Hauz Khas has paid entry. Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and Humayun’s Tomb are among the most visited sites in the city as they receive approximately 10,000 visitors every day.

    All prominent heritage buildings were reopened in July but there was a cap on the number of visitors.

    “It has been observed that people in large numbers come to the heritage sites and at several sites, social distancing and Covid norms were not being followed by the sightseers,” said an ASI official, requesting anonymity.