Now
ramps make Taj Mahal barrier-free
Agra, Sept 18: Taj Mahal,
the famed 17th century monument of love in Agra, is being made barrier-free
with construction of ramps inside the historic mausoleum to enable easy
movement for the physically disabled.
The monument is being made
disabled-friendly by Archeological Survey ofndia (ASI), which is responsible
for the upkeep and preservation of the heritage and historical monuments
in the country.
There were ramps earlier
in Taj Mahal but that were restricted to the main gate of the monument.
The ongoing construction of the ramps would enable the physically challenged
people to have a much closer view of the exquisite monument and can even
touch and feel it. Already many of the proposed ramps are ready.
A tourist from Bangkok was
extremely happy with the facility of ramps that made his disabled father
enjoy a closer view of the Taj Mahal.
"The facility in Taj Mahal
for handicapped persons is excellent. I think it's up to the standard.
There should be no problem for anybody," said Chechown, a tourist from
Bangkok.
Construction work of all
the ramps, being made as per the international ratio of 1:12, with each
ramp being one-feet high and twelve feet in length to ensure smooth movement
for the wheelchairs, would be completed within a month, an ASI official
said.
He added that care has been
taken to ensure that the ramps don't hamper the beauty of the monument."We
take care that the ramps are created in such a manner that the beauty of
the monument doesn't get affected. Tourists don't face any problem and
actually benefit from it," said d. N. Dimri, ASI official.
The Taj Mahal that was built
by Mughal emperor Shahjahan as a symbol of his enduring love for his wife
attracts millions of tourists every year.
Built by an army of 20,000
stone masons, gem cutters, marble fitters and labourers who toiled for
22 years, the Taj Mahal stands on a marble platform surrounded by ornamental
gardens. By Brijesh Kumar Singh
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