Agra may soon get airport boost to tourism

Agra's hope for a civilian airport as a boost to the Taj city's tourism industry was revived after an hour-long presentation in Lucknow before top Uttar Pradesh government officials by Agra District Magistrate Zuher Bin Sagir.

Talking to IANS, Sagir, who made the presentation Wednesday, said: "I have been assured by top officials that the Airport Authority of India officials would soon visit Agra and give their survey report after a visit to Dhanuali, where we want to have the airport terminal adjacent to the existing airport at Kheria."

The Kheria airport belongs to the Indian Air Force.

Sagir said farmers would be adequately compensated for the additional 57-acre land that needs to be acquired.

Sagir said an airport that serves civilian traffic would prove a boon to the tourism industry.

Senior tourism industry leader Rajiv Tiwari said: "Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh is very positive about the Agra airport project. The Airport Authority of India has already surveyed the Dhanuali area and is keen that the work on the project starts soon."

The Taj Mahal is less than 10 km from the Kheria airport.