MNS:- An online system of booking for tours of Rashtrapati Bhavan was launched by Secretary to the President Smt. Omita Paul on December 21, 2012. Beginning January 1, 2013 Rashtrapati Bhavan will also be opened for public viewing on Sundays and for increased hours.
The days Rashtrapati Bhavan would be open for visitors are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs without any lunch break.
Two routes for such visits have been created and visitors can choose between them. The first route will cover Forecourt, Reception, Lutyen’s Gallery, Marble Hall, Kitchen Museum, Children’s Gallery, Gift Museum, Durbar Hall, Library, Long Drawing Room, North Drawing Room, Ashoka Hall, Loggia and Banquet Hall. Brief details of each of these places are on the Rashtrapati Bhavan website. The second will include all the above places and Mughal Gardens.
Guides will be provided. Entry is free.
Interested persons can log on to website www.presidentofindia.nic.in from December 21, 2012 and register themselves in the ‘online booking’ system for visits post January 1. Visits can be booked upto 30 days in advance. On-line Booking provides time-slot options starting from 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs and also indicates the available days for visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Each time-slot will be available for up to 50 visitors. In case of school children visits/group visits, this restriction will not apply.
After on-line booking, within 2 working days, confirmation will be sent by email. The status of the booking can be checked on-line using the Registration No. and Date of Birth. In case of cancellation of tours due to other official engagements in Rashtrapati Bhavan, information will be sent by email to those who have booked tours.
The system will operate on first come-first serve basis. Those who do not have email facility or access to the Internet can continue to follow the existing system of writing to Deputy Military Secretary, Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Online booking system will cut down on paper communication and is environment-friendly. It will make management of visitors more efficient and provide visitors with a wide option of time-slots. The system has a tour guide management module, which will also be functional from January 1, 2013, using which guides will be allocated to each group of 50 visitors.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/greater-access-and-facilities-for-public-visiting-rashtrapati-bhavan/
