‘7V’ roads, cycle tracks: New Agra set to be Chandigarh lookalike

NOIDA: New Agra — one of five cities that UP govt is developing to Noida's east — will be inspired by the urban design of Chandigarh, a detailed project report unveiled by Yamuna Expressway Authority on Wednesday showed.

Taking a leaf out of the book of Le Corbusier — the renowned architect who designed Chandigarh — the new township coming up on 9,000 hectares in the Agra-Mathura region will incorporate his signature ‘7Vs' road concept.
"The layout features seven distinct road types catering to different users — from fast-moving traffic to pedestrians and cyclists. Our goal is to create a green, safe city that reduces dependence on private vehicles," said Arun Vir Singh, the Authority CEO.
The Authority's masterplan has divided the township into self-contained sectors — each of them measuring around 265 acres. Green belts, it showed, will line every road, and medians will be covered with trees along the township's periphery to maintain ecological balance.
Of the 9,000 hectares total area, the largest portion of 2,501 hectares has been allocated for residential development, while 447 hectares have been designated for mixed-use zones — combining residential, commercial, and recreational facilities.
Environmental conservation will take centre-stage, with 823 hectares serving as a river buffer along the Yamuna, 485 hectares of organised green spaces, and 434 hectares preserved for forests and agriculture. Officials said the green infrastructure would help maintain the region's "rural character" while providing ecological services at the same time.
According to the DPR, a standout feature of the township will be a tourism and recreation zone on 640 hectares, inspired by global attractions like Disneyland and Universal Studios. This area will house a world-class theme park, not just celebrating Indian culture but incorporating cutting-edge technologies like virtual and augmented reality also. The zone will include luxury hotels, resorts, and a modern convention centre, hosting daily cultural shows and entertainment events.
What about connectivity? The report detailed plans to extend the proposed high-speed rapid rail corridor from Ghaziabad to Noida airport, continuing it for another 130km to the new urban centre. This, the planners said, would streamline travel between Agra and other districts of western UP.
The township will also feature an industrial zone spanning 1,813 hectares, supporting manufacturing, agro-based units, and IT services. Located in the Taj Trapezium Zone, it will restrict highly polluting industries, allowing only those in the white and green categories.
"Special focus will be on local industries, such as leather. These, however, will be encouraged only if they meet stringent environmental standards to ensure that development does not come at the cost of pollution or ecological damage," Singh said.
The township's infrastructure will include a logistics zone on 180 hectares, a transportation network involving 1,139 hectares, and commercial development on 340 hectares.
Additionally, 330 hectares have been reserved for public amenities like hospitals, schools, and govt offices.
Officials said they would soon place the project plan before the Authority's board for an approval. This will be followed by land acquisition through mutual consent in coordination with the Authority's Mathura regional office, which was recently set up and is already overseeing the Heritage City project. "This township will showcase how modern urban planning can blend with ecological conservation and heritage," the CEO said.
Once ready, New Agra is projected to house 14.6 lakh residents and generate 8.5 lakh jobs.