Agra Projects thread

[India101]

Agra (Hindi: आगरा, Urdu: آ گرہ) is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located at the banks of river Yamuna, 363 kilometres (226 mi) west of state capital, Lucknow and 200 kilometres (124 mi) south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 (2010 est.), it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most populous in India.
wiki

Post here updates, news, info and pictures of projects & development in Agra.

[India101]

Agra plan to clean filthy Yamuna

Agra: Uttar Pradesh officials have devised a novel method to clean up the highly-polluted Yamuna river: excavate 10 ponds to store waste water that was hitherto flowing into the river from 19 drains, treat this and then use it to create clusters of greenery along the river.

"This project envisages a series of 10 ponds along the river to store drain water for treatment. The plan will not only recharge underground reserves but help our greening efforts in a big way, plus of course prevent polluted water from flowing into the river directly," District Forest Officer N.K. Janoo said.

Around 30 million litres of water from the 19 drains will be treated every single day. Dirty water will be flushed into ponds using gravitational force. The size of the ponds will vary, according to the capacity and catchment area of each drain.

The patches for the massive sapling plantation programme, along the river front in the city, have been identified, Janoo added. In the first phase of the project, about 2.5 km area from Hathi Ghat to the Lal Ghat area of the city will be used as pond and plantation sites.

The project draws its inspiration from the Kakrentha wetland project implemented last year. This was a pilot project in which drain water flowing into the Yamuna was treated in a similar way on a smaller scale.

"After our success with the Kakrentha wetland project, where we used the drain water to advantage - to green a patch along the river - we worked on a more ambitious project that would in course of time help solve the problem of pollution of the Yamuna," Janoo said.

The new project is likely to be funded by the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) Authority that monitors environmental projects in the eco-sensitive 10,400 sq km area around the Taj.

"We expect the green cover in the city to increase further. At just nine percent, we have a long way to go to attain the national target of 33 percent," he said.

The plan has received general approval from the state government. Details have to be filled in, for which a series of surveys and strategising excercises are being conducted with the cooperation of related government bodies and NGOs.

The authorities are also studying the feasibility of installing floating aerators to provide more oxygen in the ponds, according to Raman, a member of the Supreme Court committee that monitors all environmental projects in the TTZ.

He says US-based Indian environmental scientist Subijoy Dutta has been contacted for designs.

Dutta, founder of the Rivers of the World Foundation and the Yamuna Foundation for Blue Water, has done a lot of work on the Yamuna river from Delhi to Agra and has offered to provide the technical know-how for the project.

The Yamuna Action Plan I and II failed to clean the Yamuna ten years ago and cost the exchequer hundreds of crores of rupees. Attention is now focussed on this unique wetland development project along the river banks, which could become a trend setter at lower costs for all rivers in the state, officials hoped.

[India101]

Phoenix United Mall, Agra







Link

[anidel]

Originally Posted by India101

Agra plan to clean filthy Yamuna

Delhi contributes most of the filth and sewage in yamuna river. Few days ago there was a news report that govt. employees in sewage treatment plant were sleeping by keeping that sewage treatment plant switch off and they were directly throwing untreated sewage in Agra canal.

When higher ups get to know about it by seeing electricity consumption patterns being zero in night time.

[anidel]

Here is that news:

Pollution committee conducts raid, 2 sewage treatment plants found shut at night

NEW DELHI: Delhi Jal Board has been spending crores of rupees to clean the Yamuna, but with rot having set deep in the utility's own system it is not surprising that the river is dirtier than ever.

In a raid carried out by Delhi Pollution Control Committee recently, two of its major sewage treatment plants (STPs) were found shut at night, while hundreds of litres of untreated sewage were being allowed to flow into the river.

Sources said the raid was carried out at the Okhla, Kondli and Rithala STPs of which Okhla and Kondli were shut and workers were sleeping inside the premises. DPCC officials were reportedly not allowed to enter till the workers were threatened with police action.

"It seems to be a common practice at all STPs and it was just by chance that we found the Rithala STP working. A notice is being issued to DJB for flouting environment norms and allowing untreated sewage to enter the river system. An advisory will also be sent, asking for the strictest punishment against the offending persons," said sources.


http://articles.timesofindia.indiati...ted-sewage-mld

[anidel]

Agra begins to breathe easy, but clouds linger

The Taj city could finally be on its way to becoming pollution-free.The two- decades-old Supreme Court verdict instructing polluting industries to move out of the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) or adopt cleaner fuel technologies is finally bearing fruit.

The TTZ is the 10,400 sq km area around the Taj Mahal, comprising over 40 protected monuments, including World Heritage sites like the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

The Supreme Court ruling came in 1996 on public interest litigation (PIL) by M.C. Mehta.
A stroll to Agra's Nunihai and Foundry Nagar industrial estates will provide signs of change that followed sustained assault on air pollution from iron foundries and chemical industries.

"We have indeed come a long way," says Sri Mohan Khandelwal, an auto parts manufacturer, who had led the agitation against Mehta's PIL, as president of the Taj Trapezium Udhyog Sangharsh Samiti.

"The Agra industries were then victims of a conspiracy and false projection of data by interest groups," he says.

But he accepts "modernisation of industries by switching over to natural gas and fuel-efficient technology has been good for everyone. The production of the local units has been steady and efforts are on to diversify."

In the Foundry Nagar area, across the Yamuna, one now hardly sees chimneys belching smoke and fire. The long stretches of green buffers developed by the forest department have come of age and are efficiently absorbing noxious gases.

In neighbouring Firozabad, the bangle city of India, the results have been equally encouraging.

"Two decades ago the whole town was permanently enveloped in a thick cloud of smog, black soot from chimneys burning steam coal round the clock. It was difficult to breathe full and freely," says senior scribe Raghvendra Anjaan.

"But today the sky is clear. The natural gas supplied by GAIL through its pipeline has made a world of difference both to the quantity and quality of output of glass. The workers are in much better ambience," he adds.

However, new threats have emerged that call for urgent attention.The dry river bed and desert like conditions have foiled all attempts to bring down the suspended particulate matter (SPM) which continues to remain alarmingly high in Agra.

"Trees along the Rajasthan border can help control dust and the water in Yamuna can absorb the SPM," says B B Awasthi, a scientist of the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board.

"Agra's green cover has increased to nine percent now, though it is much below the national average required at 33 percent. To create an additional 100 hectares of green cover here has been tough. But we have made headway," claims Divisional Forest Officer N.K. Janoo.

"We want to follow the Delhi model of Hortico-Forestry, combining elements of both. We pay a lot of attention to water and soil conservation before taking up any forestry project," Janoo adds.

However, Agra remains far from being a clean, unpolluted garden city. The difference one sees now is only in degrees, activists say.

"No one is concerned about checking pollution from garbage dumps, open drains discharging into the Yamuna and the frenzy of construction activity all over the Braj Bhoomi, part of the Taj Trapezium," says Jagan Nath Poddar, convener of Friends of Vrindavan.

All efforts to shift the bus stand from the Bijlighar area, close to the Agra Fort, and the Idgah bus stand to the new ISBT have been stalled.

Also, the cremation ground in the shadow of the Taj Mahal continues to add to the pollution load.

The number of vehicles is rising by the day. There are over 800,000 registered vehicles in the city. Add to it the roughly 10,000 trucks and buses from other states that pass through Agra daily.

The emissions continue to foul air in the city.Now almost a sewage canal, the Yamuna river continues to receive all the industrial effluents and wastes.

"In the last 20 years, around Rs.5,000 crore has been pumped in to develop Agra's infrastructure and fight pollution. Where has all this money gone without showing any discernible results?" wonders D.K. Joshi, eco-activist and member of the Supreme Court monitoring committee.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...ds-linger.html

[India101]

Agra businessman to immortalise Husain with museum

AGRA: The Taj city will host a museum of Maqbool Fida Husain's art works and mementoes related to him, thanks to a Mumbai-based business tycoon who hails from this city.

"Husain had wanted to paint the Taj Mahal live but could not fulfil his dream," Guru Swaroop Srivastav, who is an exporter of various products including handicafts, told IANS on phone from Mumbai. To immortalise his passion for paintings, he has decided to establish the Maqbool Swaroop Kala Museum here.

An ex-IITian, Guru Swaroop had been in close touch with Husain for the past 10 years. Husain, arguably India's most well known painter, died in exile in London on June 9 at the age of 95.

"Husain had given me the design of the museum some years ago and I had moved the state and central governments, but there was no appreciable headway. But now I want to do it on my own, as a private initiative. For the city of the Taj Mahal, it will be a great milestone and another feather in its cap," Guru Swaroop told IANS.

"You know the Taj Mahal design was first conceptualised in parts as paintings which were shown to the emperor and after his approval the execution was done. It was a great place of arts in the medieval age. The Husain Museum will give a big boost to revival of arts in the city," Guru Swaroop said.

In 2004, he entered into a contract for 100 paintings with Husain for Rs.100 crore. He secured 25 paintings and 400 silk prints with his signature.

The 100 paintings were for his "Our Planet Called Earth" project. It was about a series of paintings to be painted by Husain on the theme of earth. But now that Husain is no more, this project is left incomplete - the legendary artist died in London June 9.

Guru Swaroop plans to auction some of the paintings to mobilise resources for the museum.

Efforts are on to bring some mementoes or articles associated with Husain or his remains to Agra and to open the museum soon, said Manish Agarwal, president of the National Chamber of Industries and Commerce, Agra chapter.


Guru Swaroop had gifted two silk paintings of Husain to Agra mayor Anjula Singh Mahaur after she returned from Lisbon with the 'Wonder of the World' trophy for the Taj Mahal, in 2007.

The mayor has so far not accepted the demand from various organisations to display the paintings in the Taj Municipal Museum at Paliwal Park.

For the moment, Agarwal is campaigning for the return of the two paintings of Husain, (silk prints autographed) in the possession of the mayor, to the Municipal Corporation.

The mayor says these were presented to her in her personal capacity by Guru Swaroop while the latter says he presented them to the institution of the mayor and not to any individual.

Guru Swaroop said: "In the whole universe the earth is the best planet, and on earth, India is the best, and in India the most important city in terms of architecture and arts is Agra. Therefore the Husain museum has to be in Agra."

[India101]

Soon, fly into Taj city from global destinations

AGRA: Global tourists may finally be able to fly directly into Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal that attracts millions every year.

While the civil aviation ministry has moved to identify land for an international airport, the existing airport at Kheria is also being upgraded to cater to global visitors - with an eye on the tourism season from September, say officials.

Divisional commissioner Amrit Abhijat says the civil aviation ministry has asked him to identify land for the airport and start land acquisition proceedings.


But since this project could take a little time, given the recent protests by farmers against land acquisition, efforts are on to upgrade facilities at the existing Kheria airport, currently under the Indian Air Force.

"The existing Kheria airport will be upgraded and developed," Abhijat said, briefing senior officials and civil society leaders.

The Uttar Pradesh tourism department will shortly send a formal proposal to the union civil aviation ministry to grant international status to Kheria airport, officials said, adding efforts are on to speed up the process so that flights can bring in visitors this tourist season beginning in September.

Tourism Guild president Rajeev Narain told IANS: "Visitors are wasting precious time landing in New Delhi and then driving down to Agra. We need better air connectivity."

Agra Citizens Council secretary Sanjay Chaturvedi said, "The international airport notification No. 61/94 of Central Customs is already there; it recognises the Kheria airport of Agra as an international airport. They have all the facilities but they don't have the will power."

Foreign tourists are often astonished that Agra doesn't have airport facilities. Tourism industry leaders blame the "hotel and road transport lobbies in Delhi and Jaipur for stalling and scuttling plans for upgradation of the Agra airport and resumption of air connectivity."

Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association president Rakesh Chauhan admits, "Agra's development is held up by these lobbies.

"If Agra had direct flights, who would stay in Delhi hotels and how will travel agencies run? How will the Expressway become economically viable? Fact is the Taj Mahal is the top priority of every foreign tourist. He would be so happy and relieved if he could directly land in Agra instead of wasting time in Delhi," says hotelier Sandip Arora.

They don't realise how much time is wasted due to traffic jams on the Agra-Delhi highway. A distance of just 200 km takes up to six hours and by the time they reach Agra they decide to touch and go back, Arora adds.

The latest attempts are a fallout of a recent conclave of senior officials and civil society activists, which agreed on an approach paper for Agra's development.

Rajiv Tiwari, a senior tourism industry leader, told IANS, "The Kheria airport was connected and regular Indian Airlines flights were landing till 1992. Even chartered flights have been coming here directly from international destinations. The Kingfisher airline started regular flights last year. This year they will probably have a bigger plane and better facilities."

[m_1973]

http://www.etravelblackboardasia.com...new-properties

Wyndham Hotel Group, LLC, the world’s largest hotel company based on number of hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced its expansion in India with the signing of agreements to franchise three hotels under its Wyndham Hotels and Resorts? and Ramada? brands: a luxurious, 154-room Wyndham Grand property in Agra, and two new-construction Ramada properties in Alleppey and Ghaziabad

[IndiansUnite]

Jaypee Greens Garden City - RSP Design has designed the masterplan









Images of the site posted by m_1973 in the Yamuna Expressway thread:

Originally Posted by m_1973

Work started on the 5th land parcel to develop township around Yamuna Expressway and NH2. This will initiate the revival of Agra which currently is in really bad shape

[m_1973]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/10661869.cms


LUCKNOW: An ailing Yamuna may heave a sigh of relief if claims of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam are anything to go by. The corporation has claimed that the 144 million litres per day (mld) capacity water treatment plant in Agra will start functioning in less than a year.

Chairman, UPJN, Navneet Sehgal said that the existing plant has the capacity to treat only 0.1 mld of water. This will increase significantly, when the treatment comes into operation by October 2012, Sehgal said.

"The project was started on a pilot basis. It is the first time that the technique has been adopted by Jal Nigam for which it has received an award," Sehgal said.

The plant is based on a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) technology wherein pollutants are eaten away by micro-organisms that spread like a sheet in a reactor. In fact, the pollutants act like food for the micro-organism which grows continuously.

A team of engineers and scientists comprising chief engineer UP Jal Nigam, Sushil Kumar, advisor Uday Kelkar and Ghulam Mustafa, had written a concept paper on the technology and its adoption, for which they went on to receive an international award in Perth, Australia in September. Of late, the condition of Yamuna has been continuously deteriorating.

The river, right from its origin to confluence with the Ganga and its tributaries is subjected to human activities, which directly or indirectly affect the water quality.

Sewage is discharged into the river without any treatment from the cities located along the banks of river and its tributaries.

[m_1973]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/10769586.cms


MUMBAI: Fortis Healthcare (India) Thursday announced the launch of two hospitals in Hyderabad and Agra, thus increasing its India network to 68 hospitals.

The hospital in Hyderabad with a 150-bed capacity will be functional in financial year 2013 and is the second project from the company in the city, the company said in a regulatory filing.

The hospital in Agra will initially function as a cardiac care centre, in a hub and spoke model, and expand eventually to become a multi-speciality hospital, it added.

The 75-bed hospital will be operational by the end of financial year 2012.

"These two projects are in line with our commitment to increasing the network and making quality healthcare accessible across the country," said Aditya Vij, CEO, Fortis Healthcare (India).

"We are currently present in 17 Indian states and will continue to expand to newer geographies, while strengthening our presence and increasing bed-capacity in existing cities and states," he added.

[dreadathecontrols]

i realy wonder about U P.theres something very scary about it....

[varunssc]

That was random ! lol

[m_1973]

http://zeenews.india.com/entertainme...gra_105346.htm

"A significantly large number of young local artists have impressed Bollywood in the past few years, as Agra is now emerging as a happening cultural centre," Jitendra Raghvanshi, national general secretary of the Indian People`s Theatre Association, told reporters.

"I think one reason is the growth of the hospitality industry with better class hotels. Then you have a variety of exciting locations for shooting. The general ambience of the city has also improved, particularly in the tourist complex area."

Of late films like "Mere Brother Ki Dulhan", "Mausam" and "Ekk Deewana Tha" among others have been extensively shot in Agra.

"Aisa Desh Hai Mera" was the first television show to be shot at the Taj Mahal in 2006 and now Sony TV is coming with another show "Shubh Vivah", again with Agra as a backdrop.

The show is currently being shot in the city. The shooting has created a stir as hordes of fans have been flocking the locations to see comedian and actor Rakesh Bedi. The story revolves around a girl from Agra and a boy from Vrindavan.

Kalakriti Cultural and Convention Centre`s play "Mohabbat the Taj", which talks about the eternal love between emperor Shah Jahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, has attracted many junior artists to Agra.

The city also now boasts of a world-class sound studio run by Bollywood`s ace sound engineer Satish Gupta.

According to Surendra Sharma, senior tourism industry leader, a slight improvement in the connectivity of the city with Mumbai can work wonders.

"If air connectivity from Mumbai could be restored, Agra will benefit a lot. Right now people have to make a road trip to Agra, which takes a lot of time and energy. But perhaps when the super Yamuna Expressway opens in March, there is bound to be a significant improvement in the logistics situation," said Sharma.

Culture critic Mahesh Dhakar credits local talent for making Agra a popular destination.

"From fashion photographer Pravin Talaan to actors Archna Gupta, Yuvraj Parashar, Satyavrat Mudgal to eminent poet Neeraj," said Dhakar citing some Agra natives who have made a name for themselves.

Agra-based Sparsh Srivastav, who walked away with the winner`s trophy in children`s dance reality show "Chak Dhoom Dhoom", "Indian Idol 5" contestant Rakesh Maini and "X-Factor" participant Kartar Singh Yadav are also shining stars of the Taj city.

Dance guru Anil Diwakar, who also hails from the city, has already made a global impact with his 60-member troupe in the US. And Diwakar says he is planning to conduct a dance camp in Agra in June.

Satyavrat Mudgal, who has acted in films like "Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya" and "Bunty Aur Babli", says local boy Madhur Mittal put up a good performance in Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire".

Filmmaker Anil Sharma, who is known for making films like "Gadar", "The Hero: Love Story of a Spy" and "Veer" and has been born and brought up in Agra, says he is ready to do his bit to promote the city as a shooting destination.

"I would love to promote the film industry in Agra," said Sharma, recalling how during his teenaged days he along with friends used to cycle to the Taj Mahal to play cricket and listen to cricket commentary on the transistor. His new film "Singh Sahab the Great" will feature Sunny Deol as someone who fights corruption.

[m_1973]

http://english.samaylive.com/regiona...o-the-taj.html



Admirers of the Taj Mahal would soon be able to take a bicycle tour of the monument of love on moonlit nights.
As part of plans to promote eco-tourism, the Uttar Pradesh government is working on a Taj nature walk project which entails constructing an eight-km-long cycle track to view the marble structure at night.

Other areas that would be developed included Mumtaz eco park and providing facilities like camel safari and boating in the Yamuna River flowing close by.

The matter was discussed by Chief Secretary Javed Usmani at a meeting here yesterday, official sources said.

At the meeting, the Chief Secretary directed the official to get a report on the project including, landscaping plan, management of water and natural habitat for birds, prepared within a month and taking the consent of forest department officials.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had last month asked officials to prepare a plan for Taj Nature park.

The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shaj Jahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal.

[georgerobinson]

It's really good to move through this project details, may be a nice addition to the entire beauty.

[anidel]

Taj International Airport, Uttar Pradesh


Request for proposal (RFP) For selection of consultant for site finalization and development of Taj International Airport, Uttar Pradesh.

Dated : 13.08.2012

Tender Opening Date : 14.09.2012

www.up-tourism.com/tender/up_tourism_eng.pdf

[m_1973]

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ag...apped/995164/0

Jaypee axed, new deal not to have land as ‘sweetener’

Two years after the Mayawati government had given a contract to Jaypee Infratech to build about 30 km-long Agra inner ring road with the aim to decongest the city of Taj from the traffic coming from Yamuna Expressway, the Samajwadi Party government scrapped the agreement on Wednesday.

The decision was taken after taking the developer into confidence which had already expressed its desire to quit following non-availability of additional land as sweetener, as promised in the past.

The government will now float a fresh tender for the project, which is not only significant to give a free way to the traffic coming from Yamuna Expressway but also for the proposed Lucknow-Agra Expressway, which has been planned by the incumbent government.

The decision was taken at a review meeting, called by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, where officials of the Jaypee Group, the Agra Development Authority (ADA) and Industrial Development Department (IDD) were present.

“The agreement between the Jaypee Group and the UP government was signed on February 4, 2010, which has been scrapped today. The project is significant because on a daily average about 5,000 cars come from Yamuna Expressway and NH-2 towards Agra, and the city is not equipped to handle that kind of pressure at present. The project will be taken up on PPP model only, but in a fresh manner where instead of land parcel for the developer, some other model would be adopted,” said AK Gupta, Industrial Development Commissioner.

According to the agreement, the state government was supposed to give 1,278-hectare land parcel to Jaypee group as “sweetener” along with 265 hectares to develop the ring road. While 80 per cent of the land was acquired, the government failed to take physical possession of the land because of resistance from farmers. Besides, there was litigation on over about 50 hectares.

In fact, owing to these problems, a large part of the developer group’s security deposit was returned during the previous regime, an official said, adding that the remaining money will be paid back soon.

The government has said that no land would be acquired from the farmers forcefully, but recovering the compensation already paid to the farmer is going to be a problem.

Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani has been authorised to hold meetings to work out fresh proposals. The government has decided to go ahead with a model where an annuity is paid to the developer by the state as compensation for investing in the project. In this model, farmers are offered about 25 per cent of the developed land along the road and the rest is sold to commercial houses to earn revenue.

A team of officials from the ADA, which is the nodal agency for the project, has been asked to visit Jaipur to study a model of this kind of project for construction of a ring road.

It was also decided that toll would charged on the road, but only at the entry and exit point, and city commuters would be exempted.

[India101]

Agra-Lucknow green-field expressway alignment finalised

LUCKNOW: Implementation of State's ambitious Agra - Lucknow green-field eco-friendly expressway project moved a step further on Monday. The State Public Private Partnership Monitoring Committee (PPPMC) headed by Infrastructure & Industrial Development Commissioner (IIDC), Anil K Gupta reviewed the draft concept report submitted by consultant M/s Redicon India Pvt Ltd and finalised the alignment for the expressway.

To be built on 'minimum distance formula' through PPP mode, the finalised alignment proposes around 270 km long six-lane (extendable to eight lanes) expressway starting from proposed Agra ring road close to Yamuna expressway and passing through Fatehabad, Shikohabad, Saifai, NH-92 near Etawah, NH-91 near Kannauj, NH-25A near Malihabad and will culminate at inner ring road at Lucknow. According to the draft concept report, there would be five toll-plazas, eight interchanges with 7.5 metres service lane along the expressway and 80 under passes, 135 cattle passes, four public amenities.

Draft concept report has fixed the project execution time of 3 years. PPPMC asked the consultant to incorporate design parameters for a speed of 120 Km/hour on the proposed expressway. Committee also observed that it should be clearly specified in the concept report that the Concessionaire will have to acquire land himself, while the state government will only facilitate it.

Moreover, final concept report will also include provision for optional annuity or toll based revenue models, setting up two fuel stations, linkages to existing industrial clusters of potato based food processing in and near Agra, glass-work of Firozabad, Itr (perfume) industry of Kannauj and leather of Kanpur. IIDC Anil K Gupta said, "The finalised alignment has been derived on the criteria of maximum utilisation of barren/waste and low cost land in the influence area."

"To make the expressway economically inclusive, small mandies (agro-markets) to benefit farmers, schooling facilities for their wards and medical-care facilities will be developed along with eco-friendly green belt and water bodies with a view to protect environment and rain harvesting," he added.