World heritage sites Taj Mahal and Agra Fort will reopen for visitors on September 21 after six months of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, only 5,000 tourists would be allowed at the Taj and 2,500 at Agra Fort daily. Earlier, Taj used to see a footfall of up to 80,000 people a day, and the Agra Fort was visited by almost 30,000 people daily during weekends.

Agra district magistrate Prabhu N Singh said that masks will be mandatory for all visitors at all times and thermal screening would be conducted at the gates. He added that the hotel industry will have to be more cautious as Covid cases are still raising across the nation.

“All arrangements have already been made at these monuments as per the culture and health ministries’ guidelines,” said ASI superintending archeologist (Agra circle) Vasant K Swarnkar, adding that entry tickets will be issued by e-mode only and ticket windows will remain shut. However, QR code standees at the East and West gates of the monument will be available for booking entry tickets by scanning the code.