Tajganj project cost hiked to 207cr.

The cost of chief minister's ambitious venture, Tajganj project, has once again been revised from Rs. 167.5 crore to Rs. 207 crore. This is the third such revision during the last nine months.

Officials said the cost has been hiked for the additional job of laying cobblestone pathways around the Taj. While the state government has fixed October 2016 deadline, only 30% of the project has been completed.

Under the project, 15 slums and areas surrounding the Taj will get spruced up. The roads within the 500-meter radius of the monument will have cobblestones rather than bitumen.

Talking to TOI, UK Ghalaut, general manager, Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam (UPRNN), Etawah zone, said, 'On the suggestions of the project consultant, cobblestone is being laid on the road leading to Taj Mahal. This, along with construction of a RCC road from Trident crossing to Shilpgram on eastern gate side of the Taj, has escalated the cost. The revised cost for approval has been sent to the state government.'

The initial cost of project, when work started in October, 2014, was Rs 137 crore, but it was further revised to Rs 167 crore and later it was pegged at Rs 185 crore. Now, the cost has once again gone up.

Meanwhile, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has raised objection over increasing the height of road surface using stones, which, according to them, could lead to rain water inundating Taj Mahal's premises. ASI officials informed that the road level has road already gone up by more than one foot due to relaying of roads in the area, and present work may further escalate the problem.

'Supreme Court has already directed the UP tourism department to ensure that water does not go inside the complex. Looking at the ongoing work, we fear that monsoon will create havoc inside the premises. We have already submitted our objections,' said the ASI official.

Ghaulat clarified that he was aware of the Supreme Court's directive and will ensure that it does not happen.

The project scope also includes construction 800 toilets in slum areas (more than 600 already built), renovation of public amenities like toilets and parks, removal of all overhead wiring by re-laying power transmission lines underground, creation of check posts, bunkers and crash barriers and installing a separate set of CCTV cameras at all the three gates of the monument and separate provision for car parking and tonga stand.

Uniform signage and facades of shops lined up on the roads leading to the Taj have also been planned.

The project also involves beautification and landscaping of the nearby parks and river bank.

TOI