Paper planes flown in Agra to remind PM Modi of airport promise


The long-standing demand of the people of Agra for an international airport in the city took an interesting turn when members of civil society and several other tourism and social organizations gathered at the Yamuna bank opposite the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah and flew paper airplanes for an hour, launched from a mock airport made out in the dried up Yamuna.

The interesting fact in this novel protest was that each paper airplane bore the contents of the entire electoral speech Prime Minister Narendra Modi had delivered in Agra on 13th November 2013, promising a full river and a new international airport as soon as he came to power.

Talking to India Today, Rajeev Tiwari, President of Federation of Travel Associations said that it was clear that the Prime Minister has forgotten his promises as the airport that was supposed to be built in Agra, was now being shifted to Jewar near Delhi, while the Yamuna river is still dry. He said that the paper airplanes are a symbol of the bag of air Modi's promises turned out to be and they were being flown from inside the Yamuna to remind him that he still needs to fulfil those promises.

Prahlad Agarwal, President of Agra Tourist Welfare Chamber said that the tourism industry of Agra could benefit greatly if the airport is built in Agra, but if the same airport shifts to Jewar, it will deal a devastating blow to the local hospitality industry as no tourist will stay overnight in Agra, when there is an airport just 1.5 hours away via expressway. He said that Agra had the distinction of being India's first city to have three world heritage monuments, but without an airport, the city failed to reap the benefits that could come with these monuments.

Vishal Sharma, Chamber secretary said if a Greenfield airport was not possible so soon, the central government could at least work closely with the state government to get the Civil Air Terminal project started soon. He said that if completed within the coming 3-4 years, the new terminal could easily begin handling international charter and scheduled flights, effectively turning into an international airport, till a new Greenfield airport is built in close vicinity of Agra.

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