Agra

Bomb threat to Taj Mahal triggers search operation, security heightened

In response to an email threat, Bomb Disposal Squads (BDS) and local police swiftly arrived at the Mughal-era monument, conducting a thorough search operation to ensure the safety of the premises

Agra faces poor air quality crisis as AQI hits 176, residents struggle

Some areas, such as Shahjahan Garden, recorded an AQI of 127, classified as 'Unhealthy'. Sanjay Place recorded an AQI of 179, and Manoharpura recorded 151, both in the 'Unhealthy' category

Mathura derailment: 500 workers clear track, panel to probe cause

An inquiry committee will be formed to probe the derailment of 25 wagons of a freight train near Vrindavan in Mathura district, a senior official said here Thursday. The derailment around 8 pm on Wednesday impacted services of around 30 trains on the route, with officials saying work is underway to clear the tracks so that normal operations could be resumed. Nearly 500 workers have been deployed for the job of clearing the tracks since last night. Divisional Railway Manager, Agra Division, Tej Prakash Agarwal on Wednesday told reporters that traffic on three railway lines was interrupted due to the derailment. "Twenty-five wagons of the train taking coal to Suratgarh power plant (in Rajasthan) derailed after Vrindavan yard," Agarwal said, adding that no one was injured in the incident. On Thursday morning, General Manager of North Central Railway, Upendra Chandra Joshi said, "Our priority is to clear the track first, and then we will focus on other aspects." Joshi said the ...

Water leakage in main dome of Taj Mahal due to rain, ASI claims no damage

The main dome of the Taj Mahal here witnessed water leakage due to incessant rain for the past three days which inundated a garden on the premises. The purported video of the submerged garden on the Taj Mahal premises went viral on Thursday and caught the tourists' attention. However, a senior official of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Agra circle, said there is leakage in the main dome due to seepage and there is no damage to it. Talking about the leakage in the main dome of the Taj Mahal, Rajkumar Patel, Superintending Chief of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Agra circle, told PTI, "Yes, we have witnessed the leakage in the main dome of the Taj Mahal. After that when we checked it was due to seepage and there was no damage to the main dome. We have checked the main dome through a drone camera." On Thursday evening, a purported video of 20 seconds went viral on the internet in which one of the gardens of the monument submerged with rain water. It caught the ..

SC dismisses plea to declare Agra 'heritage city', citing no benefits

The Supreme Court dismissed on Friday a plea seeking to declare Agra as a "heritage city" and said there is nothing to show that such a declaration would give the city any special advantage. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan dismissed the application filed in a 1984 PIL on the protection and preservation of the iconic Taj Mahal and its adjoining areas. "Nothing has been placed on record to show that there will be any special advantage to the city. Moreover, this court cannot grant any such declaration. Interlocutory application is dismissed," the bench ordered. During the hearing, the bench asked the counsel what advantage the city would get if it was declared a heritage city and what were the provisions under law to give such a declaration. The counsel said that Agra needed to be declared a heritage city as it has a history of over 1,000 years and several historic monuments which need to be preserved. "Declaring Agra as a heritage city would give a boost to tourism

Surat takes top spot in air quality rankings followed by Jabalpur, Agra

Surat has been ranked as the top major city in India for air quality improvements followed by Jabalpur and Agra. The Union Environment Ministry presented the National Clean Air City Awards during the Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024 held at a national workshop celebrating the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies in Jaipur on Saturday. While Surat, Jabalpur and Agra secured the top three positions among cities with population of over 10 lakh, Firozabad (UP), Amravati (Maharashtra) and Jhansi (UP) were recognized as the best among cities with population between three lakh and 10 lakh. Raebareli (UP), Nalgonda (Telangana) and Nalagarh (Himachal Pradesh) topped the list among the cities with populations under three lakh. Swachh Vayu Survekshan is an initiative by the ministry to rank cities based on the implementation of activities approved under the city action plan and air quality in cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). These cities were awarded for ...

UP govt sets aside 1,000 acres in Agra for green manufacturing units

Launches integrated manufacturing cluster with focus on promoting non-polluting industries

Qutub Minar dethrones Agra Fort as tourist magnet in historic shift

Draws 220,017 foreign visitors to become second most visited monument

18 die, over 30 injured in tragic bus accident on Lucknow-Agra Expressway

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased

Vande Bharat average speed down from 84 to 76 kmph in 3 years: RTI response

The average speed of Vande Bharat trains has decreased from 84.48 kmph in 2020-21 to 76.25 kmph in 2023-24, the railway ministry said in a response to an RTI query. Railway officials said not only Vande Bharats but many other trains are also maintaining cautionary speed at places were "huge infrastructural work" is underway. "Besides this, some Vande Bharat trains have been launched in difficult terrain areas where there are speed restrictions due to geographical reasons or extreme weather conditions," a railway official said. Citing the example of the Vande Bharat train between Mumbai CSMT and Madgaon, an official of the Central Railway Zone said, "Most of the Konkan railway area is 'ghat' section where trains pass through low height mountain ranges. It is a difficult terrain area where increasing speed could compromise safety." "Things become very challenging during the monsoon season when we have to keep the maximum speed for all trains at 75 kmph," he added. The RTI applicant

Most cities on path to achieve national clean air target; Varanasi leads

The government allocated Rs 9,631 crore to reduce the levels of particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller by 40 per cent in 131 cities by 2026 from the 2017 levels

Heliport services in Agra, Mathura to take off soon for tourism boost

UP Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said the introduction of this epoch-making heliport service would open new vistas of tourism growth and development opportunities

Health minister leads 8,000 people to take organ donation pledge in Agra

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya led around 8,000 people in taking a pledge for organ donation at the GIC ground in Agra on Saturday. Giving a clarion call to donate blood when alive and donate organs after death, Mandaviya said the government has decided to give financial assistance of Rs 10,000 per month to all the poor people undergoing organ transplant. Arrangements will also be made for their regular check-ups, he said. The health minister said that by the end of 2024, arrangements for organ retrieval will be made in all hospitals and medical colleges of the country. Addressing a gathering at the GIC ground, Mandaviya said that there can be no greater service to mankind than donating organs to save another life. The Union health minister also inaugurated a super specialty block at Sarojini Naidu Medical College (SNMC), Agra and an organ donation registry. To register to donate organs, the only requirements are the Aadhaar number, and the Aadhaar-linked mobile ...

Indore tops in govt's Smart City contest 2022, followed by Surat, Agra

Indore on Friday bagged the best "National Smart City Award", followed by Surat and Agra. The central government announced the India Smart Cities Awards for 2022 on Friday. Madhya Pradesh has won the best 'State Award' and Tamil Nadu bagged the second spot. Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh was on the third spot jointly. Chandigarh has been ranked the number one in the Union territory category. Among the 100 smart cities in the country, Indore bagged the top spot, Surat in Gujarat the second place and Agra the third spot. In October last year, Indore was adjudged India's cleanest city for the sixth time in a row. The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said that while 66 winners in different categories were announced on Friday, the awards would be presented by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony in Indore on September 27.

Yamuna waters reach Taj Mahal, no threat to monument, says ASI

The swollen Yamuna river has reached the walls of the Taj Mahal here, a development only witnessed in 1978 and 2010, even as the Archaeological Survey of India said the increased water levels pose no threat to the iconic monument. According to officials, the water level crossed the 'medium flood level' of 499 feet. It reached 499.97 feet here on Tuesday due to which the water touched the walls of the Taj Mahal and submerged a garden behind it. An official of the ASI's Agra Circle said the main mausoleum is designed on a raised structure which stands on 'Chameli farsh' and is built on a foundation of 42 wells supported by a structure of sal woods. "The Yamuna waters touched the walls of the Taj Mahal in 2010 and prior to that in the year 1978. In the 1978 flood, water had entered rooms in the monument's basement," Prince Vajpayee, conservation assistant at Taj Mahal, told PTI. "This year as well, the water has reached the Taj Mahal, but it is not a threat to the monument. The main

Yamuna breaches 'low flood' mark in Agra; relief preparedness stepped up

Officials stepped up relief preparedness as the water level in Yamuna rose to 495.8 feet here on Sunday, slightly breaching the 'low flood level' mark. As the river started swelling, it inundated nearby roads and a crematorium in Tajganj and touched the wall of the Itmad-ud-daulah monument. The Yamuna Kinara Road leading to the Taj Mahal here got waterlogged due to backflow from drains falling into the flooded river. District Magistrate Navneet Chahal inspected the low-lying areas in Agra city and directed the officials concerned to make proper arrangements in case a flood-like situation arises. Speaking to PTI, Yashvardhan Srivastav, ADM (Finance and Revenue) said, "The water level in Yamuna was 495.8 feet by 4 pm on Sunday. The low-flood level of this river in Agra is 495 feet. The medium flood level here is at 499 feet and high flood level at 508 feet." We are prepared to tackle a flood-like situation if it arises. Posts have been created and boatmen and divers are on alert. Lo

Jaipur-Agra NH-21 remains blocked, protesters demand 12% reservation

The Jaipur-Agra National Highway-21 continued to remain jammed by agitators for the sixth consecutive day on Wednesday, demanding 12 per cent reservation

Danish royalty makes India visit after 20 yrs, head to the Taj Mahal

Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik Andr Henrik Christian and Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth visited the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort here on Sunday. The Danish royals were accorded a grand welcome at the airport here. According to the tour guide, they exhibited interest in the architecture of the beautiful monument and its history. "They exhibited interest in the architecture of Taj Mahal, the inlay work and other arts. They also enquired about who built it and how many workers were engaged to build the Taj Mahal. The crown prince also expressed curiosity about the 'Black Taj Mahal'," tour guide Nitin Singh said. The 'Black Taj Mahal' is said to have been built across the Yamuna river in black marble, but the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has dismissed it as a myth. The Danish royals are on a four-day visit to India. It is the first visit to India from the Danish Royal family in two decades.

Smart Cities mission: 22 cities including Agra to be ready by next month

Agra, Varanasi, Chennai, Pune and Ahmedabad are among the 22 cities that will complete all projects under the government's ambitious Smart Cities Mission by next month, giving their citizens better quality of life and a clean and sustainable environment, officials said on Sunday. In the remaining 78 cities selected under the mission, the ongoing projects will be completed in the next three-four months, a senior official of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said. The Narendra Modi government launched its flagship Smart Cities Mission on June 25, 2015 and 100 cities were selected for redevelopment through four rounds of competition from January 2016 to June 2018. According to the ministry, the mission's objective is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give its citizens a decent quality of life and a clean and sustainable environment, besides adopting "smart solutions" to various issues. The 22 smart cities where all projects will be completed by March ar

Metro services in Agra to be operational by early 2024: CM Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said the metro services will be operational for the people of Agra by the beginning of 2024. He was inaugurating the underground work for the tunnel of the Agra Metro Rail Project being undertaken by Uttar Pradesh Rail metro Corporation (UPMRC). Talking to reporters Adityanath said, "The priority corridor of six kilometres would be completed ahead of the six months of the scheduled target and Metro services will be operational for the people of Agra by the beginning of 2024." According to a statement, the priority corridor is a six kilometres corridor, from Taj East Gate to Jama Masjid. It would have three elevated metro stations Taj East Gate, Basai Metro Station and Fatehabad Road Metro Station along with three underground metro stations Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Jama Masjid. "Agra Metro would not only help in the public transportation it will also help tourists and generate employment opportunities for the youths. Metro rail