Green corridor kicked off between Agra-Fatehpur Sikri
Aditya V Singh.
Agra commissioner Amit Kumar flags off green bus at Taj Nature park.
Agta/Fatehpur Sikri. IN a historic move in respect of environmental protection and conservation besides tourism promotion, Agra commissioner Amit Kumar flagged off green bus from eastern gate of Taj Mahal, at Nature walk park.
The green bus, which is well-equipped with all facilities for tourists, will ply daily between Agra and Fatehpur Sikri to Hazrat Saleem Chisti tomb.
Speaking on the occasion, Agra commissioner Amit Kumar said this is a major initiative for tourism promotion and ensuring environmental conservation. For this, credit goes to Arshad Faridi and Deepak Sharma of Hazrat Saleem Chisti Foundation, the commissioner said, adding that their efforts should be applauded. The Taj City, district and divisional administration would extend all cooperation in this regard.
As part of the curtain raiser of this initiative, 20 tourists had boarded the green bus to the famous and popular tomb in Fatehpur Sikri.
Upon reaching the tomb at Fatehpur Sikri, the tourists were given a warm welcome and garlanded by local people and hosts. All the tourists offered chaadar at the tomb along with Arshad Faridi, secretary of the Hazrat Saleem Chisti Foundation, with full devotion and dedication, and also sought blessings for the the success of the tourism and environmental conservation initiative.
Foundation secretary Arshad Faridi said that ” We undertook this initiative under the plans and policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for tourists between the world famous Agra and Fatehpur Sikri”.
India has exhibited her commitment towards environmental conservation and protection and set examples to the world in this regard, Faridi emphasized, adding that at various world forums, not just once but many times, the country has shown commitments towards this.
This year, the country is hosting the G-20 meet, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has shown his commitments in this regard.
Faridi said that the green corridor is ready between Agra and Fatehpur Sikri up to the Saleem Chisti tomb, where battery operated and electric buses have been started to ply. The objective behind this all exercise is environmental protection and conservation along with tourism promotion.
Deepak Sharma of Hazrat Saleem Chisti Foundation, said that in the initial phase, the green bus fare from Taj Mahal in Agra to up to Buland Darwaza will be Rs 750 per passenger, while as for foreign tourists, they have to dole out US dollar 15 per tourist. This will include to and fro fare and quality meal.
The first trip of the green corridor consisted of advocates, journalists, social activists besides tourists. They included Delhi journalist Deepti Angarish, Supreme Court lawyer Farzat Siddiqui, Shikha from Dehradun, industrialist Rupesh Kumar from Uttarakhand, Lara Dishuza from Germany, etc. All of them appreciated the effort.