Mehtab Bagh to be developed as an alternative to Taj Mahal

While the Uttar Pradesh government is keen on developing Agra, keeping in view 2017 UP assembly elections, the central government is not willing to be left behind in taking its credit in transforming Agra as a tourism hub. Several major projects have been launched in Agra by both the Union as well as the state government and senior officials have been deputed to oversee the implementation of the projects.

On 24th February, Union Minister of State (IC) for Culture and Aviation Dr Mahesh Sharma made a surprise visit to Agra, following a story published by India Today on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stony silence on his visit to the city. Sharma had taken several ASI officials and found irregularities the Taj Mahal. He promised a repeat visit soon to follow up on the issues raised by the local tourism industry representatives.

Keeping his promise, the minister arrived in Agra on Wednesday and visited the Mehtab Bagh, where he indicated that the Ministry of Culture is keen on developing it as an alternative to the Taj Mahal in order to reduce the load of tourists on the main monument.

Talking to India Today, the minister said that it was clear that the Taj Mahal's view from across Yamuna could be as breathtaking as the frontal view and opening up Mehtab Bagh for tourists at the night will also lift the constraint on the number of tourists who can view the Taj under moonlight. Presently, the number is limited to just 400 tourists in batches of 50 tourists at a time.

Asked about the progress on building an international airport in Agra, the minister said that the ministry of aviation had received the proposal and was in the process of studying it. He denied having received any proposal from the UP government about an airport in Firozabad.

He also said that his ministry would look into the possibility of dredging work in the Yamuna behind the Taj Mahal to desilt that zone and make the river deeper in order to promote boat rides across the river and between the various riverfront monuments of Agra. He also indicated the possibility of building a small barrage in the downstream of the Taj Mahal, which could maintain a respectable level of water in the river behind the Taj.

The minister, later, met a delegation of the Agra Development Foundation and Agra Tourist Welfare Chamber and was presented with a 12-point memorandum enumerating the various issues faced by the city's tourism industry.

Talking to India Today, Chamber President Prahalad Agarwal said that the minister agreed on the speedy implementation of various points raised by the chamber and indicated that he would continue visiting the city to check up on the implementation of the projects being launched by the union government in Agra.