Akhilesh wants faster work on Agra international airport

Lucknow, April 19 (IANS) In a fresh impetus to tourism in and around the Agra region, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav Thursday asked officials to complete all ground work for the international airport project at Agra and to chalk out a plan to encourage tourist influx in the Braj area.

Chairing a high-level meeting here, the chief minister asked officials to work on a time-bound plan for the Mathura, Agra and Vrindavan area.

Specifically asking for development of infrastructure in the Braj area, Akhilesh said the pathways around Govardhan and the route on which "parikrama" (circumambulation) of the shrine should be improved as early as possible and directed the chief secretary to submit a report to his office within a month.

"Not only the infrastructure, facilities for tourists and devouts should also be improved," he told officials at the meeting of the Agra, Mathura and Vrindavan Development Authorities.

The chief minister also asked officials to ensure that the areas near the Taj Mahal were clean and green and asked officials to speed up work on development of the Taj Nature Park near the Taj Mahal.

The route from Mathura-Govardhan, Kosi-Nandgaon-Barsana, Mathura-Govardhan, Vrindavan-Chatikara Radha Kund routes, Mathura-Saunk road and Govardhan-Saunk should also be broadened and developed, he said.

He also called for the need of developing resting places, sun shades, Sulabh lavoratories, lighting of the nearby areas and gave 'on-spot' principal approval of the same.