AGRA: The city of Taj joins the IT bandwagon 

Agra is famous all over the world as the city of the immortal Taj Mahal. Standing on the banks of river Yamuna, it is situated at an altitude of 169 m. The population size of the city is 9,56,000. Agra is one of Uttar Pradesh's largest and most industrialized cities.

The story of Agra begins, much earlier than the Taj. The foundation of the present city of Agra is attributed to Raja Badal Singh, around 1475 AD. The ancient city on the left bank of the river Jamuna, going back so far as to be lost in the legends of Krishna and the heroes of the Mahabharata; where it was named as

Agraban. 

The city was first made its capital by King Sikander Lodi. Agra gained its importance with the arrival of Mughals in 1526. It achieved its zenith between 1556 and 1658, under the emperors Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan (the builder of Taj

Mahal).

Akbar made it a center for learning, art and commerce. His successors continued the tradition and built number of buildings including the famous Taj Mahal. It is not surprising that the modern city of Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage.

Agra is well known for its leather goods, jewellery and marble items. Around Pratapur, in the old part of Agra, there are many jewellery shops. About 1 km long along the road running from the east gate of the Taj is Shilpgram, a crafts village and open air emporium. At festival times there are live performances by dancers and musicians, rest of the time there are displays of crafts from all over the country. Silk, silk/cotton mixed and woolen hand knotted carpets and woven woolen dhurries are all made in Agra. 

Mughal times in India gave Agra its glory of wonderful artistic stonework. Not only the great stone wonder Taj Mahal was built at Agra, also a large number of other great palaces, forts, temples and tombs were built here. This building work is still continuing apart from the establishment of a large modern stonecraft industry, enriched with the beautiful Persian touch, having its line of origin in the middle ages and ancient India.

The stonecraft industry has given a tremendous economic boost to the trading and commercial activities of Agra region through the times. There is also a running parallel history of the exploitation and poverty of stone artisans of Agra. The concept of Fair Trade is a ray of hope for these traditional stone artists. 

The economy of the Agra district is agriculture based. The economic base of Agra city is small scale industries, commerce and trade. Major crops are wheat, paddy, bajra, mustard, potato etc. About 40 percent of the total economy of Agra depend on industry (directly or indirectly). Over 7,200 small scale industrial units are spared all over the district. 

According to an industrial policy of Government of India, district industries center Agra was established in 1979 to speedup industrial development. District Industry center act as a nodal agency for establishing any industries in the district. To provide latest information to the beneficiaries this center was computerized in 1997-98 among the 10 districts selected in the first phase in Uttar Pradesh. Also dial up connectivity provided by the National Informatics Center, Agra unit. From May 2000 the Internet facility has been also provided to this center. Major Industrial Area was established at Nunhai, Agra over 71 acre of land. Mini Industrial Estate was established at Achnera 

• There are 12 units in the district which comes under Major and medium scale industries. They produces electrical goods, fans, pipes, CI casting, floor, leather goods and shoes, steel rolling, packing and milk products. 
• Small industries In this category,7200 units are working at Agra, those produces : Cotton and Textile, Wood Paper Products and Stationery, Leather Goods and Metal Products, Auto and Engine Parts, Electrical Goods etc. 
• Handicrafts works In handicrafts, zari zardozi, marvel, strone carving and inley work, carpets about 13,000 people are working. 
• Shoes Industries Above 1.5 lakhs pairs of shoes per day manufactures in Agra by the cottage, small scale and medium scale footwear units. There are about 60 organized footwear units, 3000 tiny manufacturing units and about 30,000 house holds artisans units. There are a large number of ancillary industries, supporting footwear industries in Agra. (About 20 small scale machinery manufacturers and 100 various kinds of footwear component manufactures). About 65 percent of total domestic requirement of shoes in India is supplied from Agra.

The IT market in Agra is increasing the day. The PC penetration in the city is relatively good. Both assembled and branded PC's are doing equally well. The IT market is doing well in all sectors. IT resellers in Agra organize a lot of road shows for the public. 

Agra has an IT Club, which has been organized for the welfare of the IT professionals there and also to bring about IT awareness among the people. The Club organizes the AGRA IT.COM FAIR every year, in the month of February for the IT market. This time it will be held on February 8th and 9th, 2003. Most of the channel people participate in this fair and display the IT products they deal in. The Club also plans to organize social and management programs for its resellers.

Major Resellers

Kaizen Computers P Ltd.





38/4b S-3 2nd Floor.


Friends Center. Opp. Ispat Bhavan


Sanjay Place, Agra 282002


Tel: 2352817


Fax:2351288

Mohans Warehouse





Block No. 25/20,UG,


Sanjay Place


Agra 282002


Tel: 2356382


Fax: 2350372

Ramesh Infotech



Netcity, E-759


Kamla Nagar


Agra 282005


Tel: 2580800

Vidur & Co. Pvt Ltd



35/F2, Sanjay Place


Opp. Bharat Petroleum Office


Agra


Tel: 2520096/2158413


Fax: 2520096


E-Mail: saksham4@sancharnet.in