Hindustan Times (Bathinda)

After facelift, Jallianwal­a Bagh to stay open for 15 hours daily

- HT Correspond­ent letterschd@hindustant­imes.com ■ ■

AMRITSAR : The Jallianwal­a Bagh will stay open for 15 hours daily, following completion of the redevelopm­ent project being executed by Union ministry of culture to mark the centenary of massacre of thousands of Indians carried out by the British army on Baisakhi in 1919.

This was stated by Rajya Sabha member Shwait Malik, who is also member of Jallianwal­a Bagh National Memorial Trust, after reviewing the progress of the project in the presence of officials of Archeologi­cal Survey of India (ASI), which is supervisin­g the project.

At present, the national monument stays open for 11 hours daily from 7 am and to 6 pm during winter season. During summer season, it remains open for 13 hours from 6 am and 7 pm. “The visiting hours will be extended so that maximum visitors who come to Golden Temple can also visit this garden,” said Malik.

He also said that no entry fee will be introduced at the Jallianwal­a Bagh after its facelift. “We are developing the infrastruc­ture of the garden on the pattern of other national monuments. You go to Taj Mahal, we have to pay entry fee there. But I assure you as a trustee that no entry fee will be charged at Jallianwal­a Bagh. I am also requesting Union minister of culture Prahlad Singh Patel to ensure that the Centre takes responsibi­lity of maintenanc­e of this monument, so that trust members do not face problem”.

He said the redevelopm­ent project is likely to be completed by April 13. The facelift is being carried out by the NBCC (India)

No entry fee will be introduced at the monument. The Centre should take responsibi­lity of its maintenanc­e. SHWAIT MALIK, Jallianwal­a Bagh National Memorial member

Ltd. The project had sparked a row when an old structure on ‘Shaheedi Khuh’ was demolished to give it a better look.

 ?? SAMEER SEHGAL/HT ?? People during a visit to the Jallianwal­a Bagh in Amritsar on Tuesday.
SAMEER SEHGAL/HT People during a visit to the Jallianwal­a Bagh in Amritsar on Tuesday.

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