With coronavirus cases in the country rising gradually, the Minister of Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel has announced that all ticketed monuments and museums in India will be closed till March 31.
कोरोना वायरस #IndiaFightsCorona को ध्यान में रखते हुए @MinOfCultureGoI ने @ASIGoI के सभी टिकिट वाले स्मारक एवं अन्य सभी,संग्रहालय आगामी ३१मार्च२०तक बंद रखने के निर्देश दिए हैं।संबंधित अधिकारियों से तत्परता एवं सावधानी बरतने की अपेक्षा है @PMOIndia @BJP4India @BJP4MP @tourismgoi
— Prahlad Singh Patel (@prahladspatel) March 16, 2020
This includes Taj Mahal, which recently hosted American Prime Minister Donald Trump.
Speaking on the coronavirus scare, Minister of Health, Harsh Vardhan had earlier told the media that Taj Mahal was a major reason of concern, owing to the footfall it witnesses, and that the government had a ‘containment plan’ for Agra.
Reports suggest that every day, around 50,000 people visit Taj Mahal, one of the most famous monuments in the world.
Which is not ideal keeping in mind the rate in which coronavirus is getting spread across the globe.
It is noteworthy that this is reportedly the first time in history that Urs of Shah Jahan will be cancelled. For 3 days of Urs, there used to be events for the visitors and no entry fee was charged from them.