Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to increase public utility facilities around Taj Mahal including introducing e-ticketing system for entry into the mausoleum.
“The Government should immediately introduce e-ticketing system for entry of visitors in Taj Mahal. The proposal is pending with the Tourism Ministry and if it is introduced it would save tourists from harassment,’ Yadav said in his letter that was released to media on Tuesday.
He said till now it is mandatory for a visitor to get entry tickets from the ASI windows. The tourists, both Indian and foreigners, have to wait for hours to get ticket. “Instead if e-tickets with bar codes are introduced it will save tourists from long wait,” Yadav said.
Besides, Yadav said, that more facilities like X-ray machines and Door Framed Metal Detectors (DFMD) should be installed to check bags and frisking. This will save precious time of the visitors.
He said his Government has initiated `167.92 crore ambitious scheme for providing world class facilities around Taj Mahal and if the Union Government joins hand the Taj city Agra would become a heaven for the tourists.
Meanwhile, Yadav declared that leprosy patients would also get the facilities of Samajwadi Pension scheme. This decision was taken after he met Chairman of Nippon Foundation Yohei Sasakawa who is also ambassador of WHO’s leprosy eradication campaign.
“The State Government is committed to the welfare of leprosy patients and has initiated many welfare schemes for them” Yadav told Sasakawa.