Taj Mahal Free Public Wi-Fi Facility to Be Inaugurated Next Week

BSNL's Chairman and Managing Director Anupam Srivastava told PTI that network installation is complete and the service will be free of cost for the first 30 minutes.

An official in Telecom Ministry said Ravi Shankar Prasad is scheduled to launch the facility at Taj on June 16.

As part of the Digital India programme, the government is working towards enabling all cities with a population of over one million and tourist centres with Wi-Fi hotspots.

In February, Wi-Fi facility was launched by BSNL at Dashashwamedh Ghat and Shitala Ghats of Varanasi.

According to the official in Telecom Ministry, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has identified 25

monuments all over the country where Wi-Fi hotspots could be set up.

The monuments include Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Sarnath Konark Temple Rad Fort and Ellora, among others.

Late last month, Prasad had announced Wi-Fi facilities would soon be provided at all major tourist spots across India. He also said his ministry has formulated a new policy to make tier II and III cities as IT hubs.

"Taj Mahal, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya are some of the places that will get a Wi-Fi facility soon. We have already started providing free Wi-Fi service at Varanasi ghats. The government has also started the facility of providing e-visa to tourists," Prasad had said in New Delhi at the 'Manthan conclave' organised by Aaj Tak.