After Lucknow and Gorakhpur, a state-of-the-art Science Park and Planetarium will be set up in the Taj city. In a grand ceremony held behind the ACP Loha Mandi office, in front of the Kothi Meena Bazaar grounds, Uttar Pradesh government’s Science and Technology Minister Anil Kumar, Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay, and Union Minister of State (MP) Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel jointly laid the foundation stone Here on Thursday.
During the ceremony, the foundation stone for the Science Park and Planetarium, to be built at a cost of ₹39.62 crore, was laid with the chanting of Vedic mantras and a bhoomi pujan (groundbreaking ceremony) and havan (fire ritual). The Science park will be completed within 18 months time.
State Science and Technology Minister Anil Kumar stated that the Agra Science Park will be the state’s third state-of-the-art facility, where students and the public will be exposed to modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and cybersecurity.
He added that, in accordance with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision, a Science Park will now be established at every divisional headquarters in the state.
He explained that this Science Park would focus on three key technologies of the modern era: artificial intelligence, robotics, and cybersecurity. Additionally, the park will also house the Ancient Indian Science Heritage Gallery, the Fun with Science Gallery, and exhibitions on India’s heritage in mathematics, medicine, and engineering. These galleries will present experiments from the NCERT and CBSE curriculum in a theme-based format,he added.
State Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyaya said a detailed action plan for this project was prepared and presented to the Chief Minister while he was in charge of the Science and Technology Department.
He explained that after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s approval, the cabinet passed the proposal, transferring the land from the Basic Education Department to the Science and Technology Department. He stated that this park will not only serve as a center for modern education but also create new employment opportunities.
He stated that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is committed to developing Agra as a culturally, historically, and scientifically rich city. He added that the Chhatrapati Shivaji Memorial will soon be established in Agra, becoming a center for religious and cultural tourism.
Union Minister of State Prof. S P Singh Baghel stated that the construction of the planetarium will provide students with an opportunity to understand the mysteries of astronomy. It will promote not only education but also educational tourism and open new avenues of employment for local youth. He described it as a “science milestone” for Agra’s young generation.