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Meerut City as Smart City and Hub of Travel and Tourism Abstract There is hue and cry to make as smart city form last few weeks in the state U.P. Why did the name of Meerut city not been listed in the list of smart city of . The author strongly put many facts which are sufficient to make this city in the list of smart city. Jain temples of Hastinapur, St. John's Church, Augarnath Temple, Jama Masjid, Martyr's Memorial (Shaheed Smarak), Shahi Eid Gaah, Parikshitgarh, Dargah of Baley Miyan, Suraj Kund, Gah mukteshwar ( Pious place of Hinus), Begam samru charch at Sardhana, nearly 20 km far from Meerut city, Pandeshwar temple, Historical Gurdwara and Hastinapur Sanctuary are worth being seen. So it can be developed as hub of tourism and Travel. Keywords: UPSIDC, NCR Zone, UP West Zone, DIMTS,UPSRTC, NHDP Introduction The Uttar Pradesh government had shortlisted 18 cities of the state to be developed under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi‟s „Smart City Mission‟. The state‟s Urban development department had, according to sources, sent a proposal to the Union government‟s Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) containing the list of cities along with their specialities which, the state government believes, qualifies them to be included in the ambitious scheme. “The project was in the pipeline for long. The state had sent the Kavita Saxena list of 18 cities to the Union government. The Union Cabinet cleared the Smart City Mission proposal of developing 100 smart cities across the Assistant Professor, country. Officials said that under the scheme, each city would get Central Deptt.of Economics, assistance of Rs 100 Crore per year for five years aimed at making the D. N. College, cities more liveable by recasting the urban landscape. Meerut, U.P “The cities that had been included in the proposal include , , Allahabad, , , Meerut, Mathura, , Ghaziabad, Bareilly, Aligarh, Jhansi, Gorakhpur, Saharanpur, Faizabad, Ayodhya, Rampur and Muzaffarnagar,” said the official. Officials said that the cities would be selected through a „City Challenge Competition‟ by considering the financing aspects and, of course, the ability to be turned smart as per the mission objectives. Union Government has accepted 14 cities for smart city and declared 13 cities in the list of smart cities excluding Meerut and Rae Bareilly but giving state a choice to select one more city in the in this list in Uttar Pradesh. State Government accepted Rae Bareilly due to the constituency of Sonia Gandhi and left Meerut from the list. Aim of the Study There is hue and cry to make Meerut as smart city form last few weeks. Why did Meerut not been listed in the list of smart city of Uttar Pradesh. The author strongly put many facts which are sufficient to make any city as smart one. Strong Points Why Meerut should be Smart City and hub of Travel and Tourism? Strong Geographical Background Meerut is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is an ancient city with settlements dating back to the Indus Valley civilization having been found in and around the area. Meerut is the largest city in NCR after . The city lies between the plains of the and those of the . In area covers 2,522 km2 (974 sq mi), which is larger than Delhi (Delhi covers an area of 1,484 km2 [573 sq mi]) Meerut population is 3,443,689, which is three times less than Delhi. The city lies 70 km (43 mi) northeast of the national capital New Delhi, and 453 km (281 mi) northwest of the state capital, Lucknow. It is the second largest city in the National Capital Region of (the largest

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E: ISSN NO.: 2455 - 0817 RNI No.UPBIL/2016/67980 Vol-I* Issue-V*August – 2016 being Delhi), and as of 2011 the 33rd most populous Meerut also contained a Harappan urban agglomeration and the 26th most populous city settlement known as Alamgirpur. It was also the in India. It ranked 292 in 2006 and is projected to rank easternmost settlement of the Indus valley civilisation. 242 in 2020 in the list of largest cities and urban areas Meerut had been a centre of Buddhism in the period in the world. The municipal area (as of 2001) is of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (r. 273 BC to 232 BC.), 141.89 km2 (54.78 sq mi) with the cantonment and remains of Buddhist structures were found near covering 35.68 km2 (3,568.06 ha). The city is one of the Jama Masjid in the present day city. TheAshoka the largest producers of sports goods, and the largest Pillar, at Delhi ridge, next to the „Bara Hindu Rao producer of musical instruments in India. The city is Hospital‟, near Delhi University, was carried to Delhi also an education hub in western Uttar Pradesh. from Meerut, by Firuz Shah Tughluq (r.1351–1388); it Glorious History was later damaged in a 1713 explosion, and restored The city may have derived its name from in 1867. Maya Rashtra, the capital of the kingdom of In the eleventh century AD, the south-west Mayasura, Mandodari's father andRavana's father-in- part of the district was ruled by Har Dat, the Dor law. This name may have mutated to Mairashtra, Mai- Raja of Bulandshahr who built a fort, which was long dant-ka-khera, Mairaath and eventually Meerut. known for its strength and finds mention in Ain-i- According to another version, Maya (sura), Akbari. He was later defeated by Mahmud Ghazni in being a distinguished architect, received from 1018. A prominent local landmark, the Jama Masjid, King Yudhisthira the land on which the city of Meerut dates from this period and is said to have been built now stands and he called this place Mayarashtra, a by Mahmud's vizir. Shortly after its capture the city name which in the course of time became shortened was regained by the local Hindu Raja and part of his to Meerut. Tradition also has it that the city formed a fortifications, built for the city‟s defence, survived until part of the dominions of Mahipala, the king recent times. The first big invasion on the city came of Indraprastha, and the word Meerut is associated later in 1192 AD, from Mohammad Ghori, when his with his name. general Qutb-ud-din Aybak attacked the city, and a Interesting details about Ancient Period links much worse fate lay ahead for the district, which of Meerut. Some of them are as follows came with the invasion of Timur in 1398, during which 1. There is a village called "Balani" in Meerut the Rajputs offered a tough resistance at the fort District. It is said that here was the Ashram of of Loni, where he fought the Sultan of Balmiki where Sita stayed after getting disposed Delhi, Muhammad Tughlaq. But, eventually they were by Lord Ram. It is same place where Love-Kush all defeated. Thereafter he went on to attack Delhi, was born and Sita submerged into Earth. where he again massacred the local population, and 2. There is another village named as 'Gangol' just returned to attack Meerut town, then ruled by 7km away from Meerut on Meerut- Delhi road. It an Afghan chief, Ilias, and took the city in two days, has a pond and an ancient temple. It is said to be leading to widespread devastation, before heading the place of Vishvamitra Yaga Bhumi. It now has north once again. a big Milk cooperative dairy plant and supplies The city then came under the rule of milk in the district with the trade mark 'Parag'. the Mughal Empire and saw a period of relative 3. There is an ancient Shiv temple in the City just at tranquility. During the rule of Mughal Emperor, Akbar the back of Sadar Police Station. It is called as the Great (r. 1556–1605), there was a mint for copper 'ValleshwerNath Mandir'. It is said to be the place coins here. During the decline of the Mughal Empire, of worship of Mandodari, daughter of Maydanava after the death of Aurangzeb, the city came effectively and later wife of Ravana. Meerut was city of under the control of local chieftains, the Saiyids of Maydanava due to which it original name was Muzaffarnagar in the north, the Jats in the south-east, also said to be 'Maya rastra'. and the Gujars along the Ganges and in the south- 4. Near Meerut is the temple called 'Pura Mahadev' west. The city saw Sikh and Maratha invasions in the at Bagpat Road. The 'Shiv Linga' in this temple, is 18th century, with interruptions by Jats and Rohillas. said to be placed by Loard Parushrama. Walter Reinhardt, an English soldier, established 5. Meerut is situated in between 'Indraprastha' himself at Sardhana and some parts of the district (Delhi) and 'Hastinapur'. It has various places came under his rule. Upon his death, they came into related to Mahabharat time.To get to Hastinapur the hands of Begum Samru. During this time, the take the Mawana Road from Meerut. southern part of the district had remained 6. There is a village named ' Birnava' which is said under Maratha rule. In 1803, with the fall of Delhi, to be place where a 'Lakshaghaha' was built by Daulat Rao Scindia of the Marathas ceded the Duryodhan to kill all Panadvas. territory to the British. The city was made 7. There is also a kasba called 'Parikshat Garh' headquarters of the eponymous district in 1818. which was developed by King Parikshat grandson Meerut is famously associated with of Pandava. It also has the Gandahari Talab. the against the British East After the archaeological excavations at India Company. The famous slogan "Dilli Chalo" „Vidura-ka-tila‟, a collection of several mounds named ("Let's march to Delhi!") was first raised here. after Vidura, in 1950–52, a site 37 km (23 miles) Meerut cantonment is the place where the rebellion north-east of Meerut, it was concluded to be remains started when Hindu and Muslim soldiers were given of the ancient city of Hastinapur, the capital rifle cartridges rumoured to have a coating made of of Kauravasand Pandavas of Mahabharata,which was animal fat. washed away by Ganges floods. The revolt, which catapulted Meerut into international prominence, started in March, 1857 at 74

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Barrackpore, Bengal. Sepoy Mangal Pandey shot and is held in sacred days of Navratri (also called days missed two Europeans, failed to kill himself, and was of Goddess). hanged. By April, the fire of Pandey‟s Uprising 2. In the Ramayana, Shravan Kumar carried his scorched north India and reached Meerut, the feeble parents on his shoulders to all the second-largest East India Company garrison. Here, pilgrimage sites in India, but it is believed that Europeans and native sepoys were evenly balanced, when he passed through Meerut, he put down his with a little more than 2,000 on each side. The parents for a while to rest and drink. It was here European cantonment was separated from the „native that Lord Rama's father, King Dasharatha, mistook lines.‟ Close by were Sadar Bazar and Lal Kurti Shravan Kumar for a deer and accidentally shot Bazar, the latter named after the red uniforms worn by him dead with an arrow. Shravan Kumar's parents Company soldiers. On 24 April 1857, Meerut‟s cursed the king that he too would suffer and die commander, Colonel CarmichaelSmyth, paraded 90 due to separation from his son as they died. Indian sepoys of the Bengal Cavalry, hired mostly Very Good Climate from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. He ordered them to fire Meeruth as a monsoon influenced humid the new Enfield cartridges: 85 refused. The cartridges subtropical climate characterised by hot summers and were covered with paper that had to be torn off: cooler winters. Summers last from early April to late Muslims believed the paper was greased with pig and June during and are extremely hot, with temperatures Hindus, with cow fat. reaching 49 °C (120 °F). The monsoon arrives in late All 85 were stripped of their uniforms, June and continues till the middle of September. imprisoned for ten years and shackled - this was a Temperatures drop slightly, with plenty of cloud cover major humiliation. The rebels were from the 3rd but with higher humidity. Temperatures rise again in cavalry: they owned their horses, and were the upper- October and the city then has a mild, dry winter caste elite. If they could be shackled, what could season from late October to the middle of March The others expect from the Company? On Sunday, 10 lowest temperature ever recorded is −0.4 °C May 1857, Kotwal Dhan Singh opened the (31.3 °F),recorded on Sunday, 6 January 2013. gates of the prison. These soldiers, along with other Rainfall is about 845 millimetres (33 in) per annum, imprisoned soldiers escaped prison and declared which is suitable for growing crops. Most of the rainfall themselves free, revolted, attacked and killed several is received during the monsoon. Humidity varies from of the British authorities to take the city in their control. 30 to 100%. The city receives no snow. This marked the beginning of a widespread revolt Meerut Cantonment across northern India as these soldiers marched Meerut Cantonment was established by towards Delhi. 10 May is still celebrated as a local the British East India Company in 1803 after holiday in Meerut. the Battle of Laswari. It is the second largest Meerut was also the venue of the cantonment of India both in land area (3568.06 controversial in March 1929, hectares) and population (90521 people as per 2001 in which several trade unionists, including three census). The Revolt of 1857 started from "Kali Paltan" Englishmen, were arrested for organising Indian-rail in Meerut Cantonment and Indian soldiers stationed strike. This immediately caught attention back in here actively participated in the rebellion. The England, inspired the 1932 play titled Meerut cantonment surrounds the old city from 3 sides – from Prisoners, by Manchester street theatre group, the Pallavpuram to Sainik Vihar to Ganga Nagar. It is well 'Red Megaphones', highlighting the detrimental effects connected with the rest of country by roads as well as of colonisation and industrialisation. Electricity was by rail. The Delhi Niti Paas Road (State Highway No. brought to Meerut in 1931. In the 1940s, Meerut 45) passes through Meerut Cantonment. Meerut cinemas had a "Don't Move" policy during playing of cantonment was the divisional headquarters of the 7th the British national anthem. The last session of (Meerut) Division of the British Indian Army from 1829 the Indian National Congress before Indian to 1920. Soldiers from the cantonment have actively independence was held at Victoria Park in Meerut on participated in the First Battle of Ypres, both the 1st 26 November 1946. It was in this session that the and 2nd Battles of El Alamein, Battle of France, Constitution-making committee was constituted. Burma Campaign, the Indo-Pakistani Wars, In 2006, a fire at a consumer electronics Bangladesh Liberation War and Kargil War. It has "Brand India" fair in Victoria Park Stadium killed at been the regimental centre of Punjab Regiment Corps least 100 people, with authorities already confirming of Signals, Jat Regiment, Sikh Regiment and Dogra 45 fatalities, although a specific figure on a toll was Regiment in the past. difficult to put and was predicted to be much higher. Fast Development oriented Mythology about Meerut Meerut is the 63rd-fastest-growing urban 1. Meerut was founded as Mayarashtra (lit. Maya's area in the world. It is the 14th fastest developing city country) by Maya, who was the father of in India. A June 2011 report by U.S. financial services Mandodari, Ravana'swifein the Ramayana. Meerut firm Morgan Stanley gave Meerut the 5th spot on the was the capital of Maya. Thus the city is also "vibrancy" index, ahead of Delhi and Mumbai. Meerut known as 'Ravan Ki Sasural' literally meaning ranked second on both the financial penetration index, "Ravana's wife's home". There is an old Chandi which measures things like the presence of ATMs and Devi temple in the compound of Nauchandi bank branches, and on the consumption index, ground. It is believed that Ravan's wife Mandodari indicating the city‟s transformation into an urban town. used to come here to worship Goddess Chandi While the city ranked in the bottom 10 in job creations, and since then every year a fete (Nauchandi Mela) the report suggests that overall there are plenty of signs of "potential for urbanisation," including future 75

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E: ISSN NO.: 2455 - 0817 RNI No.UPBIL/2016/67980 Vol-I* Issue-V*August – 2016 employment opportunities. The infrastructure segment crore to the national treasury in 2007-08, Rs. 26000 of Meerut is currently going through a boom phase crore in 2013-14 overall it was ranked 9th with many new projects coming up in and around the outperforming Lucknow, Jaipur, Bhopal, Kochi and city. There are many new buildings, shopping Bhubaneshwar. complexes, malls, roads, flyovers and apartments Civic Administration coming up. The Upper Ganga Canal Expressway is Meerut district is divided into three tehsils, also under development. On the India City namely Meerut, Mawana and Sardhana. These tehsils Competitiveness Index, the city ranked 45th in are further divided into 12 blocks. 2010, 37th in 2011 and 39th in 2012. The city is administered by Meerut Municipal Important Industrial Town of Western U.P. Corporation, which is responsible for performing civic Meerut is one of the important industrial administrative functions administered by Mayor and towns of western Uttar Pradesh with several Municipal Commissioner (PCS Officer). Infrastructure traditional and modern industries. It is traditionally development of the city is looked after by the Meerut known for handloom works and scissors Development Authority (MDA) administered by industry. Meerut was one of the first cities in northern Divisional Commissioner (Chairman) and Vice India where publishing was set up during the 19th Chairman (PCS Officer). century. It was a major center of commercial Meerut is the headquarters of NCR Zone publishing during the 1860s and 1870s. and UP West Zone A of Police. An ADG and a Meerut is a rich agricultural area with such secretary level IAS officer cover West UP Zone. Both pockets of land that do not fit in for crop purpose. the officers look after the legal and developmental Being in the proximity of Delhi, it is ideal for industry. It condition and system of Western Uttar Pradesh from is home to 520 micro, small and medium scale Meerut for 6 Division of western Uttar Pradesh, industries. As of August 2006, Meerut has about namely Meerut,Agra,Bareilly, Moradabad, Saharanpur 23,471 industrial units, including 15,510 small-scale and Aligarh under West Zone, and Meerut Division units and 7,922 cottage industries. with Saharanpur is in NCR Zone. A IG looks after Existing industries in the city include tyres, Meerut for legal condition and law, Commissioner also textile, transformer, sugar, distillery, chemical, looks for 6 district of Meerut Division. engineering, paper, publishing, and sports goods The office of the Chief Commissioner, manufacture. Prospective industries include IT and Customs & Central Excise, Meerut Zone, has ITES. The city is home to some prominent regional jurisdiction over 13 districts of Uttrakhand and 14 pharmaceuticals companies like Perk districts of Uttar Pradesh. This jurisdiction was carved Pharmaceuticals Limited, Mankind Pharma & out of the Lucknow Zone. It comprises the erstwhile Bestochem. Meerut is one of the major manufacturing Customs & Central Excise Commissionerates of regions for sports goods in India. The city is especially Meerut & . The Meerut Commissionerate was famous for the manufacture of cricket goods bifurcated into two Commissionerates, namely, with SG being the largest Indian cricket goods „Meerut-I and Ghaziabad‟ and the Noida manufacturer and exporter operating in Commissionerate was bifurcated into „Noida and Meerut. Meerut is also a hub of gold design in India. Meerut-II‟. In addition, jurisdiction of Central Excise Meerut is also the largest manufacturer of musical Division Bareilly was included in the jurisdiction of instruments in India. Meerut is also home to a battle Meerut-II Commissionerate. gear and armoury industry which produces gear for Well knit Transportation use in Hollywood films and television series. Notable Air uses have been in the movies Gladiator, 300 and the The nearest airport is the Indira Gandhi television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. The International Airport which is about 100 km away. Dr. industry is pegged to be Bhim Rao Ambedkar airstrip is located at Partapur. It around ₹25 crore (US$3.8 million) per annum. was proposed by the state government that the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development airstrip be converted to an international airport to Corporation (UPSIDC) has two industrial estates in reduce pressure on Delhi airport. However, Plans to the city, namely Partapur and Udyog Puram. expand the airstrip were called off after protests Well Known Retail Industry Presence against land acquisition started in other parts of the Aside shops representing a range of well- state. Following an accident in May 2012, the city known brands, car showrooms, hotels, bars and administration barred private flights from using the clubs, the city's gold market is one of Asia‟s largest, airstrip. employing over 35,000 skilled craftsmen and Road processing around 60 kilograms of the precious metal By road Meerut is well-connected to major per day. The city has over 40 BIS Hallmark citieslike Delhi, Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Haridw showrooms. ar, etc. A large number of people commute to Delhi, Plenty of Revenue generation Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurgaon every Meerut has shown healthy numbers in day for work. Three national highways (NH-58, NH- terms of revenue generation. In 2005–06, Meerut 119 & NH-235) pass through Meerut. Upper Ganga occupied the fifth slot and contributed Rs 10,306 crore Canal Expressway which passes through outskirts of to the direct tax collection. It slipped to number six in the city is under development. 2006–07 when the revenue collection at Rs 11,203 There are 2 main bus terminals, namely crore was 18% lower than the target of Rs 13,627 Bhainsali bus terminal and Sohrab Gate bus terminal crore. According to statistics compiled by the Income from where Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Tax department, Meerut contributed a Rs.10,089 76

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Corporation (UPSRTC) buses ply to cities all over the financial year. In November 2013, it was reported that state and all nearby cities. the stretch from Delhi up to UP Gate was to be As Meerut has been declared a metropolitan converted from six lanes to fourteen lanes with six city in 2007, JNNURM scheme has been put in lanes grade-separated exclusively for traffic moving place. Low Floor City Buses (under JNNURM), towards Meerut. The stretch from UP Gate to Dasna Normal City Buses, auto rickshaws and rickshaws are was to be eight laned and a new six lane alignment convenient public transport options to commute within was to come up from Dasna to Meerut bypass on NH- the city. Many new transport infrastructure projects 58. The project cost, including land acquisition, was like inner ring road, outer ring road and construction of estimated at 6450 crore (US$970 million). new flyovers are proposed. and soon after within a As of December 2013, the Delhi-Meerut span of 2 years an approximate count of about 10 expressway proposal is under preparation for overpasses were built in the city. consideration of Public Private Partnership Appraisal Delhi-Meerut Expressway Committee with proposals for a flyover at Mohan A proposal for a Ghaziabad to Meerut Nagar, a 4710 m long viaduct at Modinagar and a expressway was mentioned in the Lok Sabha by the 1710 m long viaduct at Murad Nagar. The project then Minister of State for Urban Affairs and involves 6-laning of NH-58 from UP Gate to Partapur. Employment in March 1999. The proposal again Railways found mention in a February 2000 seminar speech by Meerut has four railway stations: Meerut the then Union Urban Development Minister. City, Meerut Cantt, Partapur and Pabli Khas. Meerut An expressway from Delhi to Meerut via City station is the busiest in the city. The railway line Ghaziabad was then proposed under the NCR between Delhi and Meerut was constructed in Transport Plan 2021, which was notified in September 1864 and the Meerut Cantt station, which serves as a 2005. The Delhi to Ghaziabad section was to be taken secondary railway station was founded in 1865. up in 2001-11 with the Ghaziabad to Meerut Meerut lies on the Delhi–Saharanpur railway line. scheduled 2011-21. In February 2006, the Committee About 20,000 passengers travel daily to on infrastructure gave approval for a feasibility study Delhi and back. Around 27 pairs of trains run between for the expressway. The decision to build the Meerut and Delhi, and four between Meerut and expressway was announced in the 2006 budget Khurja. Two trains are available for Lucknow daily, speech by then Finance Minister P. namely Nauchandi Express and Rajya Rani Express. Chidambaram. Construction of 1,000 km of A weekly train goes to Chennai and Kuchuvelli. expressways under National Highway Development Ahemdabad Mail connects the city to Gujrat, and Program (NHDP) Phase-VI was approved in Express to Chhattisgarh state. November 2006. In December 2006, it was reported Metro Project that 600 km of expressways would be chosen from On December 30, 2014, the Uttar Pradesh among the proposed expressways including the Delhi- Cabinet had approved the proposed Metro Rail Meerut expressway for the first stage of NHDP projects in Meerut, to boost urban mass transport Phase-VI on the basis of a prioritization study being infrastructure in Meerut.The state government has taken up by the NHAI. nominated RITES Limited and Lucknow Metro Rail In April 2008, it was reported that proposals Corporation (LMRC) for preparing the respective had been invited from consultants for deciding the detailed project report (DPR) and as coordinator, alignment of the expressway. In November 2009, it respectively. The development authorities would be was reported that the alignment study had been nodal agencies for DPR. completed and a consultant had been appointed for The metro project got the green signal from the feasibility study for the project, with the expected the divisional commissioner. It was decided in the completion of the study by May 2010. In August 2011, meeting that the project would be along two corridors it was reported that the expressway was targeted for - Partapur to Pallavpuram Phase 2 and Rajban completion by December 2015. In October 2011, it Market to Gokalpur village. The main stations on the was reported that the feasibility report was under first corridor will be Partapur, Panchwati Enclave, progress and the project was to be taken up under Rithani, Rithani West, Shatabdi Nagar, Devlok, NHDP Phase-VI. The alignment proposed was to be Madhavpuram, Meerut Railway Station Road, Lajpat along NH-24 from Nizammuddin to Dasna and then to Bazaar, Begampul, Gandhi Bagh, Lekha Nagar, Meerut. In December 2011, the December 2015 Pallavpuram Dorli, Ansal City and Pallavpuram Phase targeted completion date was reaffirmed and the While the corridor in the Partapur-Pallavpuram Phase feasibility report submitted by the appointed 2 route will cover 20 km and will have a total number consultant was said to be under study. of 18 stations in between, the 10 km-long route from In May 2012, it was reported that the original Rajban Market to Gokalpur village will have nine target of awarding concession by 2009-10 was not stations. completed due to various problems regarding alignment finalisation, and the consequent delay in feasibility reports. In July 2013, the Steering Group Rapid Rail appointed by the Prime Minister to accelerate The NCR Transport Plan 2021 proposed a Infrastructure Investment decided on 15 March 2014 rail-based mass transit system called Regional Rapid as the last date for awarding of contract for the Transit System (RRTS) between Delhi to Meerut with expressway. the Shahdara-Ghaziabad section scheduled for In August 2013, it was reported that the construction during 2001-11 and the Ghaziabad- expressway was targeted for the contemporary Meerut section scheduled for 2011-21. 77

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In September 2010, the RRTS was reported the name of Nauchandi Fair is held two weeks after to be proposed between Anand Vihar and Meerut with every year. The fair, which started in the project in its initial stages. The cost was projected 1672, continues for about 15 days and is attended to be around₹1000 crore (US$150 million) with the by lakhs of people. It includes events such as poetry expected time of the journey being 45 minutes. In recitations in Hindi, , Punjabi etc. The Khariboli November 2010, the train speed was proposed to be dialect of the Hindustani language is the dominant between 130-160 kmph with stations at Anand Vihar, language for conversation with official business being Sahibabad, Mohan Nagar, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, conducted in either English, Hindi or Urdu. Duhai, Moradnagar, Modinagar, Meerut South, Meerut is the headquarters of the Roman Shatabdi Nagar, Meerut Centre, Begumpul, Meerut Catholic Meerut Diocese, which covers the districts of North, Pallavpuram. Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Dehradun, On 14 December 2010, the NCR Planning Haridwar, Moradabad, Rampur, Jyotiba Phule Nagar, Board, Meerut Development Authority (MDA) and Ghaziabad, and Dhampur Tehsil of Bijnor Nagar Nigam Meerut approved this system. In August district. 2011, it was reported that the project tender had been Film and Television awarded to Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit Meerut is home to a booming local film System (DIMTS). The proposed system was to have industry, which has a large following in Western Uttar dedicated trains between Anand Vihar and Meerut, Pradesh and . The films are usually folklore which stop nowhere in between, and trains which stop stories or comedies or localised versions of Bollywood at stations to be constructed after a gap of 4–5 km. hits. The reported stations were Anand Vihar, Vaishali, Notable people from Meerut in the film and Mohan Nagar, Meerut Road (Airtel Cut) Morta, Duhai, television industry include Bharat Bhushan, Aziz Mian, Muradnagar, Gang Nahar, Modi Nagar, Mohiuddinpur, Mandakini, Achint Kaur, Kailash Kher, Chitrangada Meerut Bypass Cut and Pallavpuram with completion Singh, Vishal Bhardwaj, Deepti Bhatnagar and expected in 2017. The track between Anand Vihar to Pravesh Rana. Dabur was proposed to be underground with the rest Education Hub of the track overhead. Meerut is an education hub of Western Uttar On 11 July 2013, the Union Cabinet of India Pradesh with four universities, approximately 50 approved the formation of the National Capital Region engineering colleges, 23 management colleges, Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTCL) with a seed seven pharmacy colleges, four colleges offering hotel capital of ₹100 crore (US$15 million). The corporation management, one college offering fashion design, is to take up the construction of the 90 km long Delhi- over 150 academic colleges and over 50 schools. The Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor on a priority basis (along city is home to Chaudhary Charan Singh with two other corridors) with planned completion in University (formerly Meerut University), Sardar 2016. It was reported that the Detailed Project Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Reports (DPRs) for the three corridors were under the Technology, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University process of finalization. and Shobhit University. The city has one government- In December 2013, problems were reported run engineering college, Sir Chhotu Ram Institute of in the proposed alignment of the Delhi-Meerut Engineering and Technology, which is a constituent corridor. In January 2014, it was reported that the college of Chaudhary Charan Singh University. The proposed alignment had to be changed due to city also has St. John's Sr. Sec. School, which was objections by NHAI and the feasibility report had to be established by Begum Samru and is over 130 years prepared again. The new proposed alignment old. increased the length from 90 km to 106 km. Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU) Strong Demographics is public and state university whuch has many degree According to the 2011 census, the Meerut colleges affiliated to it. They fall in two Urban Agglomeration (including the area under the divisions: Saharanpur and Meerut with nine districts Municipal Corporation and the Cantonment Board), including Saharanpur,Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, has a population of around 1.4 million, with the GautamBudhNagar, Bagpat, Hapur, Bulandshahr and municipality contributing roughly 1.31 million of it. This Ghaziabad administered by Vice Chancellor and makes Meerut the 33rd most populous urban Registrar (PCS officer). The Indian Film and agglomeration and the 26th most populous city in Television Institute is located at the western bypass of India. The sex ratio in Meerut is 888, lower than the the city. The city has two medical colleges: Subharti state average of 908; while the child sex ratio is 847, Medical College and Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial lower than the state average of 899. 12.41% of the Medical College. population is under 6 years of age. The overall literacy The city has many madrasahs which provide rate is 78.29%, higher than the state average of religious education as well as modern education with 69.72%. Meerut has a crime rate (total cognizable computer learning. The city also has coaching institutions for preparing students for entrance exams crimes under IPC per lakh population) of 309.1, of engineering and medical fields. Nearest higher than the state average of 96.4 and the national government university which offers degree in average of 196.7. Engineering, Science, Management and Humanities Ganga Jamuni Culture is Gautam Buddha University located in Greater Most traditional Indian festivals, including Noida. Holi, Dussehra, Diwali, Eid among others are Strong Presence of Media celebrated with fervor in the city. Notably, a fair by 78

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Meerut is becoming an important media around the national holidays of India. The memorial center, as journalists from all over Uttar Pradesh and complex also houses the Government Freedom other Indian states are working in Meerut. As media Struggle Museum which is dedicated to the first war of centres are situated in Meerut, the city is getting a Indian independence. good amount of publicity on the national platform. The Gandhi Bagh law and order situation has improved a lot in the This centrally located garden has a very recent past and media has had an important role to beautiful and serene environment. Locally known as play in it. Radio stations shared with Delhi are Radio "Company Garden", it has been present since before City 91.1 MHz, BigFM 92.7 MHz, RedFM 93.5 MHz, R independence, when it got renamed to its current adio One 94.3 MHz,Hit 95 (95 MHz), Radio Mirchi name. It runs a musical fountain show every evening. 98.3 MHz, AIR FM Rainbow 102.6 MHz, Meow FM Earlier, the garden used to have multiple entrances 104.8 MHz, AIR FM Gold 106.4 MHz. Radio IIMT like the one shown on the right, which were always (90.4 MHz) is the only radio station located in the city. kept open, and there was no entry fee. But now, only The Hindi-language daily newspapers Dainik one entrance is kept open and a ticketing system with Jagran, Amar Ujala, Dainik Hindustan, Janwani, nominal charges has been put in place. Hindu, Rashtrasewa, National Duniya, DLA, I-Next Shahpeer's Mausoleum are published from the city. The English daily Times of (Shahpeer ki dargah) – This is a Mughal India, Meerut edition and the English language mausoleum erected by the empress Nur Jahanin supplement HT City, Meerut with Hindustan Times is 1628 in honour of a local Muslim Hazrat Shahpeer. It also published here. Moneymakers, an English daily is a red stone structure that was partly built and is are also published here. incomplete till date. The tomb is adorned by intricate Tourist destinations nakashi (stone painting). There is no roof on the main Tourist destinations in and around Meerut tomb. People say that Shahpeer was the teacher of include. Mughal Emperor Jehangir. The tomb is listed by Jain Temples of Hastinapur the Archaeological Survey of India as a national Located on the banks of old ravine of heritage monument. Ganges, Hastinapur is considered one of the holiest Shahi Eid Gaah places on earth by Jains. It is believed to be the It was built by Nasir ud din Mahmud, the birthplace of three Jain Tirthankaras. There are many youngest son of Iltutmish, and the eighth Sultan of the ancient Jain temples in Hastinapur. Shri Digamber Delhi Sultanate. It is about six hundred years old and Jain Mandir, Jambudweep, Kailash Parvat, has a capacity of about one lac people to offer Shwetambar Jain Temple are the main and famous prayers (Namaz) on Eid. There is Nakkashi on the temples in Hastinapur. Apart from Jain temples, walls of Eidgah which reflect the Sulatani Gulam era. Pandeshwar temple, Historical Gurdwara and Parikshitgarh Hastinapur Sanctuary are worth being seen. The place is associated with and derives its St. John's Church name from King Parikshit of Hastinapur (the grandson This church was established by Chaplain the of Arjuna). The fort was built by Parikshit and restored Reverend Henry Fisher on behalf of the East India by Gurjar King Nain Singh in the eighteenth century. Company in 1819 in the cantonment area and was Dargah of Baley Miyan completed in 1822. It is considered one of the oldest This dargah was built by Qutb-ud-din churches in North India. The Church was dedicated to Aybak in 1194 in the memory of Ghazi Saiyyad Salar the people by Bishop Wilson. It has a seating capacity Masud (known locally as Baley Miyan). An Urs is of 10,000 people. During the war of 1857, this church organised annually at the Dargah during the was the scene of heavy fighting between Indians and Nauchandi fair. the British forces. Suraj Kund Augarnath Temple This is a pond, built by a businessman Lawar This temple (also known as Kalipaltan Jahawar Lal in 1714. It is filled with water from the Mandir locally) is located at the site where the soldiers Ganga Canal. It is surrounded by several temples, of the war of 1857 planned their operations. The including the Baba Manohar Nath temple, which is temple also houses a memorial built to honour the said to have been built during the period of martyrs of the revolt of 1857, Indian Rebellion of Shahjahan. Other places of interest include Mansa 1857. The old temple has been replaced by a modern Devi Temple, Baleni, Basilica of Our Lady of version. Graces, Sardhana and the Chandi Devi Temple which was built by holkar queen Devi Ahiliyabai Holkar. Conclusion Jama Masjid Thus, we can firmly say that there should not The Jama Masjid was built by Hasan any if an but from the Union Government side since it Mahdi, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi's Wazir (chief is its own scheme. This is not the issue of politics. minister) in 1019 AD (older than the Qutb Minar). That This issue is relating to all of us. The centre should makes it the first Masjid in North India. And although it come forward and announce Meerut as smart city. was restored by Humayun, it is one of the oldest M.L.A., M.P. and even Mayor belongs to BJP. Hence, Muslim mosques in India. the delay in declaration may annoy the people of Martyr's Memorial District Meerut. (Shaheed Smarak): The memorial is a 30 Jain temples of Hastinapur, St. John's metres (98 feet) high pillar of marble situated at Church, Augarnath Temple, Jama Masjid, Martyr's Bhainsali. Functions are organised at the memorial Memorial (Shaheed Smarak), Shahi Eid Gaah, 79

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Parikshitgarh, Dargah of Baley Miyan, Suraj Kund, Research Centre of Bornholm, Denmark Gah mukteshwar ( Pious place of Hinus), Begam http://www.crt.dk/Pdf/Rep/0063.pdf samru charch at Sardhana, nearly 20 km far from 14. Marcussen, Carl H. 2006, Internet and Meerut city, Pandeshwar temple, Historical Gurdwara Distribution of European Travel Updates, Centre and Hastinapur Sanctuary are worth being seen for Regional and Tourism Research, References Denmarkhttp://www.crt.dk/UK/Staff/chm/P_CHM. 1. Buhalis, D., A.M. Tjoa and J. Jafari 1998, htm Information and Communication Technologies in 15. Mills, M. and Rob Law (Editors), 2005, Handbook tourism, ENTER'98 Conference Proceedings, of Consumer Behaviour,Tourism and the Internet Istanbul, Springer-Verlag, Wien-New York. Haworth Press Inc.,U.S. ISBN 0-7890-2599-X 2. Buhalis, D., and Schertler, W., 1999, Information 16. Nyheim, P., McFadden, F., Connolly, D.,2005, and Communication Technologies in tourism, Technology strategies for the hospitality industry, ENTER'99, Springer-Verlag, Wien-New Pearson-Prentice Hall, New Jersey. York, ISBN 3-211-83258-0. 17. O'Connor, P., 1999, Electronic information 3. Fesenmaier D., Klein, S., and Buhalis, D., 2000, distribution in tourism and hospitality, Oxford: Information & Communication Technologies in CAB. tourism, ENTER'2000, Springer-Verlag, Wien- 18. O'Connor P., 2004,Using Computers in New York, ISBN 3-211-83483-4. Hospitality Thomson Learning ISBN 1-84480- 4. Fesenmaier, D., Werthner, H., Wober, K, 2006, 045-8 Destination Recommendation Systems: 19. Poon, A., 1993, Tourism, technology and Behavioural Foundations and Applications HB competitive strategies, Oxford: CAB International. 0851990231, CABI, London. 20. Porter, M, 2001, Strategy and the Internet, 5. Frew A., O'Connor P, Hitz M.(Eds), 2003, Harvard Business Review, March, pp. 62–78 Information and Communication Technologies in 21. Sheldon, P., 1997, Tourism Information Tourism,Springer-Verlag Vienna ISBN 3-211- Technology, CAB, Oxford 83910-0 22. Sheldon, P.J. Wöber,K., Fesenmaier D.R. (Eds) 6. Frew A., (Editor) 2004, Information and 2001, Information and Communication Communication Technologies in Tourism 2004, Technologies in Tourism 2001: Proceedings of Springer-Verlag Vienna ISBN 3-211-20669-8 the International Conference in Montreal, 7. Frew A., (Editor) 2005, Information and Canada, 2001: Springer-Verlag Vienna ISBN 3- Communication Technologies in Tourism: 211-83649-7 Proceedings of the International Conference in 23. Sheldon, P, 1997, Tourism Information Innsbruck, Austria, Springer-Verlag Vienna ISBN Technology,CABI Publishing, Oxford, England, 3-211-24148-5 ISBN 0-85199-181-5 8. Gary Inkpen 1998,Information Technology for 24. Werthner, H. and Klein, S., (1999) Information Travel and Tourism, Longman, ISBN 0-582- Technology and Tourism-A challenging 31002-4 relationship, Springer, New York. 9. Mills, M. and Rob Law (Editors), 2005, Handbook 25. Wöber, K.W. A.J. Frew M. Hitz (Editors) 2002, of Consumer Behaviour,Tourism and the Internet Information and Communication Technologies in Haworth Press Inc.,U.S. ISBN 0-7890-2599-X Tourism 2002:Springer-Verlag Vienna ISBN 3- 10. Kärcher, K, 1997, Reinventing Package Holiday 211-83780-9 Business, DeutscherUniversitätsVerlag, Berlin. 26. WTO,1999, Marketing tourism destinations 11. Laudon, K., 2004, E-Commerce: Business. online: strategies for the information age, World Technology. Society.: Case Book Update, Tourism Organization,Madrid. Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-321-26937-3 27. WTO, 1994, Global Distribution Systems in the 12. Lawrence, E., Newton, S., Corbitt, B., Tourism Industry, World Tourism Organisation, Braithwaite, R., Parker, C., 2002, Technology of Madrid. internet business, Wiley, Australia. 28. WTO, 2001, e-Business for Tourism: Practical; 13. Marcussen, Carl H. 1999, Internet Distribution of guidelines for destinations and businesses, European Travel and Tourism Services, Madrid: World Tourism Organisation.

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