Trumps’ entry into Taj in eco-friendly vehicle: Admn
AGRA: With senior administrative authorities here maintaining that US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania would enter the Taj Mahal in an ‘eco-friendly’ vehicle the chances of the President’s car entering the monument are minimal as of now.
The authorities maintain that Supreme Court guidelines will be followed during Trump’s Taj visit.To note, hectic preparations are on for the visit of US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania on February 24. Final rehearsals are likely on Saturday or Sunday but it is still not clear if ‘Beast’, the high profile vehicle of the President will be part of it.
“US president Donald Trump and wife Melania would enter Taj Mahal in an ‘eco-friendly vehicle,” said inspector general of police A Satish Ganesh on Friday.
Superintending archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Agra Circle Vasant Swarnkar too said Supreme Court guidelines would be complied with. “The vehicle used by the guests will be decided by the administration but we are here to ensure compliance of Supreme Court directives,” he said.
Asked whether the US team was reluctant to take the President to the Taj Mahal in a battery -operated vehicle, a senior officer said the administration was not aware of any such reluctance and was making arrangements as per the SC directives.
“About two decades ago, the Apex Court had restricted movement of petrol/diesel-run vehicles within 500 metre radius of the Taj. Since then, such vehicles are not allowed on Taj premises and most VVIPs visiting this monument mostly opt for specially prepared battery-operated coach while others take golf cart,” informed DK Burman, a retired tourism department official.
The issue about entry of the VVIP guest came up in 2015 when the then US President Barack Obama was expected to visit Taj. The visit was called off at the eleventh hour. Officials said Obama had to visit Saudia Arabia to condole the death of King Abdullah but some believed that restriction imposed on VVIP vehicles too was an issue.
“The cancellation of Obama’s visit came as a surprise, but restriction on his vehicle entering the Taj forecourt was not the primary reason. The issue was raised, but we could have sorted it out. Saudi King’s death made him fly to Saudi Arabia,” said an official (now retired) who was in service in Agra in 2015.
Another retired official recalled that in 2000, the then US President Bill Clinton travelled from the airport to Taj Mahal in his own car (‘Beast’). This car, along with his cavalcade, entered the forecourt of the Taj. But two years later, he visited the Taj again, not as President. This time he used a specially prepared battery -operated coach provided by the Agra Development Authority.
This battery operated coach is again refurbished and in ‘ready to use’ mode should the VVIP guests decide to use it.