The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Security to be beefed up at Charminar, Golconda Fort

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Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Security to be beefed up at Charminar, Golconda Fort

J.S. Ifthekhar

Threat perception following recent bomb blasts in Hyderabad

Charminar is protected by 12 guards
The number will be doubled at both the historic places

— Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

TAKING NO CHANCES: Work in progress on the outer fort wall of the Golconda Fort.

HYDERABAD: Visitors to the historic Charminar and the Golconda Fort will hereafter run into strict security measures.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to step up security at these monuments in view of the threat perceptions following the recent bomb blasts in the city. Proposals have already been sent in this regard and the Director General, ASI, is expected to give his nod soon.

At present Charminar is protected by 12 security guards and Golconda Fort by 25. It is now proposed to double the number of guards at both the monuments.

This is in addition to the Door Frame Metal Detectors and hand held detectors already deployed here. “We are being careful. We don’t want to take any chances,” said Jitender Das, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI.

There is also a proposal to raise the ticket charges for the two monuments. The present entry fee of Rs. 5 for Charminar and Golconda Fort will be hiked to Rs. 10. Similarly, foreign visitors will have to shell down 5 US dollars as against two dollars now.

On an average 3,000 persons visit Charminar every day and on weekends 10,000. At Golconda Fort the daily visitors average 5,000 and on weekends the numbers touch about 20,000. Though the ASI has 200 monuments under its control in the State, only eight have entry fee. From the next financial year it is proposed to charge a nominal entry fee of Rs. 5 at 10 monuments.

They are: Gooty, monolithic bull at Lepakshi (Anantapur district), Gurramkonda fort (Chittoor district), remains of buried Jain temple at Danavulapadu (Kadapa district), Madhavaperumal temple and Madarasala at Gandikota (Kadapa district), rock-cut cave temples on the hill at Moghalrajapuram (Krishna district),

Buddhist remains at Salihundam (Srikakulam district), Buddhist remains at Sankaram (Visakhapatnam district), remains of Buddhist stupas at Kapavaram (E. Godavari district) and reconstructed monuments at Anupu.

Meanwhile, the repair and restoration work at Charminar is progressing . At Golconda too the strengthening of outer fort wall is being carried out.

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