Tourism zone, river front planned along Yamuna from Mathura to Agra to boost tourism

GREATER NOIDA: In a move aimed at boosting tourism in the state, the Uttar Pradesh government has asked the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (Yeida) to develop a ‘tourism zone’ and a ‘river front corridor’ along the Yamuna river from Mathura to Taj Mahal in Agra.

According to Yeida officials, the river front project spread across 109.7 hectares includes the development of golf course, amusement park, sports complex, naturopathy and wellness centres, and amphitheatres, among others, near ancient city of Vrindavan.

On the other hand, the tourism zone project, which will have five star hotels, guest houses, service apartment, heritage centre, convention centre, old age home and other commercial projects, is planned on 731.13 hectares scattered in different sites of Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Nandgaon, Gokul, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri, the officials said.

“The river front spread on 109.7 hectares is part of the urban centre planned at Raya near Vrindavan. And tourism zone will be developed as per the policies of UP and central governments with an aim to promote tourism in ancient towns,” said Arun Vir Singh, chief executive officer, Yeida.

The officials said that the authority will soon hire a consultant to prepare the layout of river front and tourism zone projects. “We have already started the process to hire a consultant and the work on detailed project report of these two projects will start soon,” said Singh.

In its 69th board meeting held on Monday at its administrative building in Sector Omega-I, Yeida approved a proposal regarding these two projects, the officials said.

Yeida has to create required facilities along the Yamuna so that national and international tourists flock to Mathura and Vrindavan and enjoy the spiritualism in these ancient cities related with Lord Krishna, said the officials.

Yeida has also planned to develop a heritage city along the Yamuna Expressway so that the tourists have ample options to engage with during their journey in this region from Greater Noida to Agra that is home to Taj Mahal, they said.

“Taj Mahal already attracts the tourists from world over and if we provide the facilities along Yamuna river, then they will enjoy the serenity and it will boost growth in this part of the country,” said the Yeida CEO.

The authority has also fixed rates to acquire land for the development of these projects. “We have fixed Rs 2,300 per square metre along with 7% of total land acquired as compensation to buy the land along the expressway. The board has given approval to this proposal,” said Singh.

Apart from this, Yeida board also approved proposals related to development of Jewar international airport, Film City project and other projects on which it is already working, the officials said.