Agra Police Prepares for New Year Rush at Taj Mahal

Agra police have implemented special measures to manage the surge in tourists visiting the Taj Mahal during the New Year celebrations, officials announced on Tuesday. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has also canceled leaves for staff to handle the expected influx of visitors.

Since the beginning of December, the Taj Mahal has seen an average of 40,000 visitors daily, with numbers expected to rise further on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Prince Vajpayee, a senior conservation assistant at the Taj Mahal, stated, “Huge footfall of tourists can be seen these days at the Taj Mahal. The monument will witness such rush till January-end.”

To ensure safety and smooth operations, a quick response team has been deployed near the monument. Syed Areeb Ahmad, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) for Taj Suraksha and Traffic, said, “Special arrangements have been made to tackle tourists’ rush since December 25 and mainly during this weekend. We have deployed a quick response team near the Taj Mahal premises.”

Additional measures include alternative parking facilities and traffic management to help tourists reach the monument without delays. Policemen in plain clothes will also be stationed to prevent drunken driving and other disturbances.

Rajeev Saxena, President of the Tourism Guild of Agra, noted the rise in domestic tourism, attributing it to Agra’s enduring appeal. However, Ramesh Wadhwa, President of the Hotel and Restaurants Association in Agra, highlighted the need for more recreational activities to encourage tourists to stay overnight. “The rise in numbers of domestic tourists will not help hotel owners, because most of them leave the city on the same day after visiting the Taj Mahal,” he said.

Despite the challenges, the Taj Mahal continues to draw visitors from around the world, with foreign tourists currently accounting for 10% of the total footfall. Shakeel Rafiq, a government-approved tour guide, remarked, “I visited the Taj Mahal with NRI tourists from Chicago on Tuesday. It took a lot of time for us to enter the main mausoleum due to a heavy rush.”