Rubio to visit Taj Mahal today; monument to remain open for tourists

Agra: US secretary of state Marco Rubio will visit the Taj Mahal on Monday during his India tour. According to the details, Rubio is scheduled to arrive at the Air Force Station in Agra on a special aircraft at 9.05 am and will reach the monument around 9.45 am. He is expected to spend nearly an hour at the mausoleum before departing for Jaipur.During the visit, the Taj Mahal will remain open for general tourists, but visitors are likely to face restrictions and movement curbs inside the monument complex due to the high-security protocol surrounding the visit. Security personnel from both Indian and American agencies will remain deployed inside the premises during his visitPreparations for the visit have intensified over the past few days, with advance teams of US security agencies having already conducted an inspection.ACP (Taj Security) Mayank Tiwari said, “A comprehensive security and traffic management plan has been put in place in view of the proposed visit of US secretary of state to the Taj Mahal on Monday. Adequate deployment of police personnel, traffic officers and security agencies has been ensured along the route and at the monument premises to maintain law and order and facilitate smooth movement.”The visit marks another high-profile diplomatic stop at the 17th-century monument, which continues to be a key attraction for world leaders and foreign dignitaries visiting India. Last year in April, US vice president JD Vance also visited the Taj Mahal with his family.