AGRA Despite the encouraging drop in the covid-19 positivity rates in Agra and recovery rate rising past 90 percent, the Archaeological Survey of India has decided to keep the Taj Mahal and other Agra monuments closed till 31st May.
The monuments had been closed for tourists on 15th April, till 15th May, but due to a nationwide spike in covid-19 cases, the Union Minister of Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel has extended the monument closure till 31st May.
Last year too, the Taj Mahal and other monuments had been closed on 17 March 2020 due to covid-19, and it could only be reopened after over six months, in September 2020, only to be closed again on 17 April this year.
The tourism industry of Agra has come to its knees in the past year due to the global threat of covid-19, and the closure of the Taj Mahal.
Vishal Sharma is an experienced Indian journalist, cyber security consultant, social activist, and poet writing under the pen name Surur Akbarabadi. With over two decades in journalism, he has worked across print, digital, and TV media, including notable roles at The Indian Express, The Pioneer, Indo-American Times, and Business Standard. He is currently the editor of Agra24.in, a bilingual news portal focused on Agra, which he co-founded to provide in-depth analysis and balanced reporting.
Based in Agra and Lucknow, Vishal balances his professional commitments with family life. Academically, he has studied Life Sciences, Law, and Business Management, and has pursued studies in journalism and mass communication. His journalism covers current affairs, business, and social issues, with a focus on factual reporting and avoiding controversial topics that could harm social harmony.
As a poet inspired by Urdu legends like Ghalib and Nazir Akbarabadi, Vishal’s work combines personal insight with societal critique. He actively promotes communal harmony through his role as Vice-Chairman of Hindustani Biradari, an organization founded to emphasize unity beyond religion and caste. He is also Secretary of the Agra Tourist Welfare Chamber and was also a member of Agra’s Heritage and History Conservation Committee, working to preserve the city’s cultural heritage.
Professionally, Vishal brings his cyber security expertise to his media work, enhancing the technical and editorial quality of his news platforms. His interests include photography and travel, particularly exploring India’s diverse landscapes and cultural heritage sites like Rajasthan, especially Sariska. His contributions reflect a steady commitment to journalism, cultural preservation, and social cohesion without excessive embellishment.
