Agra, Dec.2: Over the years, disabled visitors who came to see the Taj Mahal could only gaze at it from the entrance. Now, thanks to the efforts of the authorities they will be able to get a closer and more intimate view of the magnificent monument of love.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has responded to the needs of physically challenged tourists by constructing nine ramps at various points in the complex. This is the latest in a series of initiatives that have been taken here for improving the quality of life of the disabled. The ramps apart, a dozen wheelchairs are made available to enable the physically challenged to move conveniently around the Taj complex.

 

Mr Munazzar Ali, an ASI official at the Taj, said: “Foreign tourists usually come with their own motorised wheelchairs and freely move around without assistance, but the domestic tourists use the wheelchairs provided by us. Nine ramps of different sizes and lengths have been constructed, the longest one being 48 feet.”