Red Fort: Well kept, disabled-friendly

The World Heritage Site of Red Fort has won the National Tourism Award for the 'Best Maintained & Disabled Friendly Monument'.

The World Heritage Site of Red Fort has won the National Tourism Award for the 'Best Maintained & Disabled Friendly Monument'.

HT Image

Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar, union tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahai and actor Priyanka Chopra presented the award in a ceremony held in the Capital on Monday.

KK Muhammed, superintending archaeologist (Delhi circle) and Harbir Singh, ASI's director (horticulture) received the award on behalf of the organisation.

The Red Fort has ramps all across for easy accessibility by physically disabled people.

After carrying out the audit of the infrastructure around two years ago, Swayam - an NGO working in the field of disability, suggested interventions.

"We had suggested and ensured that the ramps are built at the right gradient," said Abha Negi, director, Swayam.

Muhammed said, "We are going to further upgrade other facilities at the Red Fort, including new toilet blocks, which too would be disabled-friendly, and revised visitor circulation plan."

The award should come as a big boost to the World Heritage Site, which had seen a sharp decline in the number of visitors due to various reasons.