The Yamuna Expressway may well turn out to be yet another worry for the Taj Mahal, already battling pollution and signs of decay. The expressway — opened on August 9 — has almost doubled the weekend visitors to the Taj, pushing the Archaeological Survey of India into asking the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) to conduct an environment-impact study pending since 2006.
Earlier, around 15,000 to 20,000 people visited the monument a day over the weekend. “Now, the numbers have gone up to 25,000 to 42,000 and are expected to cross 50,000 as the season picks up,” said Munazar Ali, a Taj Mahal conservation assistant. If needed, the tourist inflow could be regulated, he said.
In 2006, the Supreme Court had directed a carrying-capacity study to de-stress the Taj.
A Neeri team, which has begun the study, would gauge the impact of the increased tourist flow on temperature and humidity — a rise in both or even one can cause damage — and offer solutions. In case of an adverse impact report, visitor movement may be regulated, he said.