The Uttar Pradesh government has approached Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a Rs 2,000 crore loan for developing Agra as a `tourist-friendly city.
Talks are on with ADB for a Rs 2,000 crore loan which would be used to provide better civic amenities and infrastructure in Agra, Uttar Pradesh Governor Romesh Bhandari has said.
Meanwhile, senior ADB officials said in New Delhi that a $600,000 grant was approved by the bank in 1995 for undertaking a technical study for Agra, Mathura and Firozabad trapezium, but the report is still awaited.
Any commitment for the grant would be made only after a complete study of the final report, which is being prepared by an independent agency, the sources said.
Inaugurating the seventh `Taj Mahotsava in Agra on Wednesday, Bhandari said a Rs 600 crore `Agra Heritage Fund has been set up by the state government for the development of this city so that the City of the Taj could be made as beautiful as the monument.
The Governor said out of the heritage fund, Rs 200 crore has been earmarked for the Yamuna action plan, Rs 100 crore for power transmission, Rs 50 crore for water supply and Rs 72 crore for Agra by-pass road.
Bhandari said the four-lane road from Delhi to Agra would be completed this year, making it easier for the tourists visiting the city. Bhandari said a Rs 10 crore `Taj Heritage Fund has also been created.
The state government would contribute 50 per cent of the amount and the rest would be collected from shows and festivals.
Around 300 craftsmen and folk artists are attending the 10-day craft, culture and cuisine festival.
Artists from Haryana, Bihar, Manipur and other parts of the country have gathered here at the `Shilpgram near Taj Mahal.
This year, the mahotsava is celebrating the 50th year of Indian independence.
The governor also released a book on freedom fighters of Agra, written by Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, on the occasion.
