Chennai: Citing huge footfalls during weekends and holidays, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) wants the Tamil Nadu govt to regulate traffic near the Pallava-era monuments at Mamallapuram.The Tamil Nadu govt recently announced 100 crore to develop infrastructure to promote tourism. “Traffic congestion has become a major problem near the monuments at Mamallapuram. To address this, the state govt should prepare a master plan for the town and shift the bus stand outside the town. Only battery-operated vehicles or electric vehicles should be allowed to ply near the monuments,” said Sushanta Kumar Kar, superintending archaeologist, Chennai Circle, ASI.He said a similar arrangement was in place at Hampi in Karnataka. “This will lead to less pollution and traffic congestion in the region, and will help preserve the monuments better,” Kar said.According to the ASI’s ticket numbers at the monuments, including Shore Temple and Five Rathas, as many as 78,938 people visited the place in Dec. The number of visitors peaked in Jan, with 1,92,814 visitors, including 7,592 foreigners.These monuments also face issues such as unauthorised vendors and tourist guides. UNESCO prescribed rules to maintain the core area and buffer zone around world heritage sites. Officials said these rules need to be implemented properly across the group of monuments.ASI is planning to establish a new centre for visually challenged people to touch and feel the monuments, along with Braille notes. “This centre will come up at the Shore Temple. The models of important monuments will be kept at this centre. Further, we are preparing videos with sign language to explain the monuments carved during the 7th and 8th centuries CE,” Kar added.,
