West Bengal: ASI monuments to reopen from Monday

KOLKATA: All nationally protected monuments in Kolkata and the rest of Bengal that are under the custody of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will again be thrown open to the public from Monday.
Entry would strictly be through e-tickets and there would be a cap on the number of visitors, depending on the size of the monument, stated the notification by the ministry of culture.For example, at a huge place like, Hazar Duari in Murshidabad, around 100 people might be allowed at a time, and at a much-smaller Melcalfe Hall in Kolkata, around 30. Wearing of masks and sanitization of hands will be compulsory.

In Bengal, there are 132 nationally protected monuments maintained by ASI, of which six are in Kolkata. “Besides restrictions on the number of visitors, hand-hygiene will be strictly maintained. One person at each site will video-document the ‘new normal’,” an official said.
“Apart from the cap on the number of visitors at monuments, visitors shall follow social distancing. The use of face cover/mask is mandatory. At the entrance personnel will be there to carry out thermal scanning and hand-sanitization. Only asymptomatic persons are allowed. There shall be designated routes for entry and exit and movement within the monument,” stated the standard operating procedure (SOP), issued by the ministry. The monuments will be opened in two time slots a day. At sites, where gate passes are required, e-tickets would be accepted only. Visitors would have to make e-payments at the parking lots and cafeterias. No group photography and eating of food will be allowed on the premises.
In June, ASI reopened 820 of its monuments across the country where religious activities take place. “Cleaning and sanitisation of monuments and museums, including toilet blocks, benches and frequently used surfaces, will be carried out at a regular interval,” the notification stated.
As many as 3,691 centrally protected monuments and archaeological sites maintained by ASI were shut from March 17 to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus.
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