The Delhi Lieutenant Governor’s office has directed action against alleged tout activity around Qutub Minar and other major monuments after complaints that visitors are being surrounded, misled and offered unauthorised hotel, shopping and other services. The directions include an inquiry into the alleged activities and action against officials found negligent in managing the affected areas.
The complaint reportedly highlighted the presence of more than 20 alleged touts around the Qutub Minar parking area. It also referred to allegations of involvement by a local police officer. The Lieutenant Governor’s office has sent the matter to the concerned police authority and asked for action within a fixed timeframe, along with information to be provided to the complainant.
The directions cover an investigation into people allegedly misleading tourists near Qutub Minar, as well as the allegations made against the police officer. The report identifies the officer as Nihal Singh and states that Delhi Police has been asked to investigate the matter and submit a report. The allegations have not been established, and the inquiry is expected to determine the facts.
The complaint has also sought the immediate identification and verification of people operating in the parking area. It has requested an examination of closed-circuit television footage and statements from drivers of tourist vehicles associated with the area. These steps are intended to establish how the alleged activity is being organised and whether officials responsible for the location failed to act.
Qutub Minar is among Delhi’s three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, along with Humayun’s Tomb and the Red Fort. The capital has more than 1,200 monuments and historic buildings, including 174 protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, according to the report. Other prominent visitor destinations include Purana Qila, Safdarjung’s Tomb, Jantar Mantar, Khan-i-Khana’s Tomb, Sultan Garhi, Tughlaqabad Fort, Feroz Shah Kotla and the Hauz Khas complex.
The reported complaints point to a management problem at the point where visitors enter and move around heritage sites. Although the monuments themselves are protected through designated agencies, surrounding parking areas, access points and visitor interactions involve multiple authorities, including the Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi Police and tourism agencies. The Lieutenant Governor’s directions specifically call for accountability in police beats where officers are found to have neglected their responsibilities.
The action comes as Delhi seeks to promote tourism through its historic sites. The complaint alleges that touts operating around the monuments are damaging the city’s image by approaching visitors immediately after they arrive and making misleading offers. The latest instructions require the police inquiry and verification exercise to proceed within the specified timeframe, after which the complainant is to be informed of the action taken.
