Question : RESELLING OF TICKETS AT TAJ MAHAL

(a) whether the Government is aware of the racket of reselling the tickets at various monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) including Taj Mahal leading to massive loss of revenue to the Government and involvement of ASI staff therein;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) whether the Government is aware that the State has set up any committee to investigate into the ticket resale racket at Taj Mahal and if so, the details thereof along with the progress made and action taken thereon, if any;

(d) whether the Government has received any request to start inquiry into the matter and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to prevent recurrence of such activities and streamline the selling of tickets at ASI protected monuments?

MINISTER OF STATE, CULTURE AND TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) AND MINISTER OF STATE, CIVIL AVIATION (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)&(b) No, Madam.

However, the Director General (Tourism), Govt. of Uttar Pradesh has made a complaint before the Secretary, Govt. of India based on head count carried out for few days by the local staff of Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department.

(c) As per the information received from Regional Tourist Officer, Uttar Pradesh Tourism, Agra, a committee of three members has been constituted under the chairmanship of Additional District Magistrate (City), Agra to investigate into the matter.

(d) On receiving a complaint from the Director General (Tourism), Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, an inquiry team from Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India visited Agra on 19-20 Feb, 2015 to inquire into the complaint. The Inquiry team had also held a meeting with the District Administration and Regional Tourist Officer, Agra in the matter.

(e) Archaeological Survey of India has launched the E- ticketing on Proof of concept (PoC) basis from 26/12/2014 at East Gate, Taj Mahal, Agra and Humayun’s Tomb, New Delhi with the technical and manpower support from Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. ( IRCTC).