Agra to be directly connected to 7 major cities via flights soon

Agra will soon have air connectivity with seven major cities. The tourism industry in Agra is all upbeat with the recent announcement by Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri that assured the Taj city’s long-pending demand for air connectivity with major destinations will finally be resolved.
The minister also announced that private airlines will soon start flights that will connect the Taj city with major destinations including Bengaluru, Varanasi, Bhopal, Lucknow, Mumbai, Delhi, and Jaipur. While flights connecting Agra with Bhopal, Varanasi, Bengaluru, and Lucknow will be flagged off by December this year, flights for other destinations, i.e., Jaipur, Delhi, and Mumbai will be finalised after rebidding for these routes.
Welcoming this decision, the secretary of Agra Development Foundation said that the initiative would help promote tourism and industrial prospects of Agra. Some are of the view that once the flights are introduced, they will fail to continue in the long run, eventually harming the tourism industry. Others are also of the opinion that if planned properly, these flights can continue unhindered.
Officials are also in talks to get a separate route to the Agra airport to ensure passengers don’t face any hassle while having to go through the Air Force station. Also, work on the new airport terminal building will start again as soon as the government gives the clearance.
Apart from the Taj Mahal, Agra is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India that draws tourists almost all round the year. The closest domestic and international airport to Agra is Delhi, and till date, all the promises related to air connectivity have failed. However, this latest announcement has definitely raised hopes for the tourism industry.