UP Govt plans 'New Agra' heritage city on Yamuna Expressway

28 Nov 2024 CW Team

The state government of Uttar Pradesh has planned the development of a heritage city called ‘New Agra Urban Centre’ along the Yamuna Expressway in Agra district. The new city, designed by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), will primarily focus on commercial and tourism activities. Covering 10,500 hectares of land—about half the size of Noida—the city will be developed on land identified in 60 villages of the Etmadpur tehsil in Agra.

The draft blueprint for New Agra was created in collaboration with a consultant after conducting socio-economic surveys of the region. Initially, land for the project was identified in Hathras district, but the location was revised following assessments. The next phase of development involves on-site land verification to evaluate connectivity, encroachments, and other factors before submitting the final proposal to the state government for inclusion in the Master Plan 2041.

A major focus of the new city is to enhance Agra’s commercial potential, leveraging the tourism appeal of landmarks like the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri. Officials have emphasized that the project will adhere to strict environmental regulations to protect the Taj Mahal, particularly within the Taj Trapezium Zone. The city will feature theme parks and recreational spaces as part of its urban design.

This development is YEIDA’s first significant urban planning initiative along the Yamuna Expressway, complementing the upcoming Noida International Airport, expected to boost tourism to Agra. YEIDA's jurisdiction spans 1,149 villages across six districts, including Agra, Mathura, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Hathras.

Infrastructure Transport

05 Feb 2026

MMRDA Installs 325-Tonne Steel Spans on Mumbai Metro Line 4

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has achieved a key construction milestone on Metro Line 4 with the successful installation of three large steel spans at Bhandup West during overnight operations.The spans, together weighing 325 metric tonnes, were launched using eight heavy-duty cranes and 12 multi-axle vehicles. The operation required precise engineering and meticulous planning to minimise disruption in the densely populated suburban area.Due to effective inter-agency coordination, the work—originally scheduled across four nights—was completed within just two n..

CMRL Targets March 2027 Opening for Vadapalani–Panagal Park

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is progressing as scheduled to open the Vadapalani–Panagal Park section of Phase II’s Corridor 4 by March 2027. The 3.5 km underground stretch is part of the 26.1 km Corridor 4 connecting Lighthouse with Poonamallee Bypass.Construction activities are advancing steadily, with tunnelling works between Vadapalani and Panagal Park already completed. Track-laying operations are expected to commence shortly. At Panagal Park station, structural works have reached the concourse and platform levels, while excavation continues at the lowest level.CMRL is also consid..

Maha-Metro Invites Pune Metro Civil Maintenance Bids

Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro) has invited bids for the annual civil maintenance contract of the Pune Metro Rail Project. The tender, bearing ID and number P1-O&M-20/2025, is scheduled to close on 23 February 2026, with a pre-bid meeting slated for 10 February 2026. The earnest money deposit (EMD) for the contract is Rs 3,50,500, and the duration of the contract is one year.The scope of work includes annual civil maintenance of 28 elevated and underground stations, 28.079 km of elevated viaduct including steel bridges, 12.15 km of tunnels, and two depots under the ..