Agra is getting a massive makeover and coming out of the time warp to embrace modernity, replete with marvelous shopping malls, resorts, townships and commercial centers.
Keeping pace with the private sector, the Agra Development Authority (ADA) has charted out an expansion plan with a new 4,000-acre hi-tech township of international standards on the outskirts of the city.
The township would include, among other things, different hubs like an educational hub, a recreation hub, a sports complex, a world-class auditorium, a medical city, an IT park, a golf course and many more things. In fact, in order to meet the rush of the tourists all through the year, the ADA has also made provisions for the construction of more 3, 4 and 5 star hotels.
Talking to FE, Anurag Srivastava, vice-chairman, ADA said, ??We have also made a provision of developing 300-400 acres amusement parks within the township. Once we finish acquiring the land we will start auctioning the plots and with a huge demand already existing in this sector, we are sure to make this international city a huge success.??
Forming part of the famous ?Golden Triangle? (Delhi-Jaipur-Agra), this tourist centre is a hotspot for big real estate players. The mad spree among private builders in launching major residential and commercial projects in the city visualises its future growth.
In fact, the ADA is also not far in following in the footsteps of the private builders. ??Out of the 4,000 acres of the township, a major chunk, say around 1,000 acres would be for residential purposes,?? said Srivastava.
However, providing proper basic infrastructure has so far been the bane of ADA, with private builders alleging that the government agency is only creating new slum areas without basic civic amenities. But Srivastava said, ??we have big plans for the Taj city.