Centre keen to develop Agra as model tourist spot

As Taj Mahal was named one of the seven wonders of the world in an unofficial global poll, the Centre today said it is keen on developing the Agra city as a model tourist destination.

"We are interested in developing the Agra city. But a lot will depend on the initiative of the Uttar Pradesh government," Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy told reporters in New Delhi.

He was replying to a question on the efforts of the government to develop Agra in the wake of Taj Mahal being named as one of the seven wonders.

A private Swiss foundation had launched the contest in January, allowing voters to choose from 21 sites short-listed out of 77.

Nearly 100

million people worldwide had taken part. Reddy said Agra was already among the 63 cities to be developed under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission, under which Centre grants 35 per cent of the funds for developing a city and the remaining coming from the state governments.

While the monument would be taken care of by the union ministry of culture, the urban development ministry would develop the city in coordination with the state government.