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2004 to be celebrated as Taj International Year
Agra, Dec 07: The year 2004 would be celebrated as `Taj International Year`, with programmes to mark the 350th year in existence of the world famous Taj Mahal.
Agra, Dec 07: The year 2004 would be celebrated as `Taj International Year', with programmes to mark the 350th year in existence of the world famous Taj Mahal.
The celebrations would be inaugurated by Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav in March next year, state Tourism Minister Naresh Agarwal told reporters here today.
As part of the events to mark the year, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be requested to declare the opening of the Agra International Airport, he said, adding Air Sahara had agreed to link the city with all major cities of the country.
Agarwal said the UP government had sanctioned a sum of Rs one crore for a tourist centre in the city and another Rs 50 lakh for an auditorium.
The condition of the roads would be improved while the artisans' village near the Taj -- Shilpagram -- would be modernised, he said.
The events had earlier been linked with the 500 years of the founding of the city of Agra but due to the controversy over the antiquity of the city, the Taj had been brought into focus rather than the city, Agarwal said.
The minister also hoped that the confusion about entry tickets to the Taj and other historical monuments of Agra would be sorted out in discussions between the Agra Development Authority and the ASI.
He said 30 units now being maintained by UP tourism would be handed over to private agencies for management. Bureau Report
As part of the events to mark the year, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be requested to declare the opening of the Agra International Airport, he said, adding Air Sahara had agreed to link the city with all major cities of the country.
Agarwal said the UP government had sanctioned a sum of Rs one crore for a tourist centre in the city and another Rs 50 lakh for an auditorium.
The condition of the roads would be improved while the artisans' village near the Taj -- Shilpagram -- would be modernised, he said.
The events had earlier been linked with the 500 years of the founding of the city of Agra but due to the controversy over the antiquity of the city, the Taj had been brought into focus rather than the city, Agarwal said.
The minister also hoped that the confusion about entry tickets to the Taj and other historical monuments of Agra would be sorted out in discussions between the Agra Development Authority and the ASI.
He said 30 units now being maintained by UP tourism would be handed over to private agencies for management. Bureau Report