Agra,

24 May (HS): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit the Taj Mahal on

Monday. He will arrive in Agra on a special aircraft on Monday. Rubio is on a

four-day official visit to India. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Seva

Tirtha on Saturday.

The

US Secretary of State’s visit to India is considered significant amid ongoing

tensions in West Asia and global developments. Rubio is expected to arrive at

the Air Force base in Kheria on Monday at around 9:30 am. He will then proceed

directly to the Taj Mahal. He is scheduled to stay at the Taj Mahal from

approximately 10:05 am to 11:05 am. The US Secretary of State's convoy will

arrive at Shilpgram from Kheria Airport. From Shilpgram, he will arrive at the

Taj Mahal's eastern gate in a battery-operated golf cart. Central and

provincial intelligence agencies are on high alert in anticipation of the US

Secretary of State's visit to Agra. Hotels surrounding the Taj Mahal are under

strict surveillance.

On

Saturday, the advance security team of America closely inspected the security

arrangements from Kheria Airport to Taj Mahal and held discussions with the

police and administrative officials of Agra regarding security. The Taj Mahal

will remain open for general tourists during the visit of the US Secretary of

State to the Taj Mahal. It is noteworthy that the Taj Mahal remains closed for

general tourists only during the visit of any head of state to the Taj Mahal.

The local police administration is also ready for the proposed Agra visit of

the US Secretary of State.

The

US Secretary of State will travel from Agra to Jaipur. No other plans have been

revealed, but a short stay at a five-star hotel has been arranged as an

alternative. Agra City DCP Syed Ali Abbas stated that security arrangements are

being made according to protocol for the US Secretary of State's proposed

visit. Dr. Smita Kumar, Superintendent Archaeologist of the Agra Circle of the

Archaeological Survey of India, stated that as of now, there are no

instructions regarding closing the Taj Mahal to general visitors due to the US

Secretary of State's visit. Therefore, the Taj Mahal will remain open as usual

on Monday.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi