Bada Imambara balcony entry ban upsets tourists

LUCKNOW: " Ab main ye machis ke teeli hall ke doosre kone mein jakar jalaunga, aur aapko uski aawaz yahan iss kone par sunayi degi (Now, I will go to the other end of the hall and light a matchstick there, you will hear its sound here)." All tourists guide taking visitors around Bhool Bhulaiya in Bada Imambara till now would tell the same thing while demonstrating the acoustics marvel. But, not anymore.In a heart-breaking development, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has closed all the 14 entry-exit points to the balcony of the central inner hall of Bada Imambara. The balcony to which all alleys of the labyrinth led to, was the spot where tourists stood in wonderment of the acoustics of the over 200 year old monument.This, the ASI, says has been done so as to prevent any mishap from taking place, with the 'selfie' generation going to its edge, and the small, narrow passage can not sustain the large number of tourists it had been handling.Steel grilles have now been fixed to restrict entry and the ASI has no plans to to open the 20 feet high and 163 feet long balcony any time soon.“It had been on our mind to close entry to the inner hall’s balcony for long. Recently, during an inspection, we saw a crowd of tourists moving about the balcony, which could lead to any untoward incident. The balcony is not made to bear so much of weight continuously,” said ASI’s superintendent archaeologist for Lucknow circle, Indu Prakash. “There are currently no plans to give access to the area again,” he added. The employees of Husainabad & Allied Trust (HAT), who double up as guides at the protected monument, as well as tourists were none too happy.“Tourists kehte hain dikhaya hi kya, aur hamein bhi lagta hai ke poora nahi dikhaya. (Tourists feel the void, and so do we),” said Ansar Hussain, a guide. “We used to take tourists through one of these points. Now, since the balcony has been shut, it would be difficult to manage the crowd of tourists through the labyrinth,” said Zameer.Another employee Asghar Hussain said that the move was required for safety of tourists and the structure, but ASI should allow limited entry to the balcony after repairs. Ticketing for labyrinth had started in 1946, with entry for each costing 25 paise, recall the old guides at the monument.