agra the uttar pradesh cabinet has approved the proposal to build a taj orientation centre at the location of shilpgram near the taj mahal east gate the orientation centre will cost the state exchequer rs 231 crore the present structure at the site will be razed to the ground and the new facility will be built over it the cabinet had earlier instructed the construction agency uttar pradesh rajkiya nirman nigam uprnn to prepare the detailed project report where the cost was set at rs 226 crore on july 2 2015 uprnn submitted a budget of rs 299 crore to the expenditure finance committee who further revised it to rs 231 crore the cabinet approved the budget on monday a committee under the tourism department secretary will monitor the facilities being established under the project it will ensure that the project is completed within the stipulated budget on january 5 chief minister akhilesh yadav had laid foundations of rs 438 crore worth tourism projects including establishment of mughal museum agra street caf agra heritage centre and taj orientation centre at taj nature walk the mughal museum rs 14189 crore and the taj orientation centre rs 23185 crore will be built near the east gate while agra street caf rs 35 crore on fatehabad road and agra heritage centre rs 30 crore on m g road the orientation centre will provide a platform for local artisans to promote their craft besides offer facilities of global standards under one roof the revamped complex is expected to be a major tourist draw the 115 acre complex which at present houses taj mahal ticket counters and a police station will have stateoftheart facilities for tourists as well as a multilevel parking other facilities at the centre are an auditorium openair theatre shops for artisans and a stand for batteryoperated vehicles to ferry tourists from the site to the taj east gate according to tourism department the new complex has been designed keeping in mind the future needs of tourists it is being projected that after the completion of the inner ring road which connects yamuna expressway to the taj mahal the traffic load would shift to the east gate from the west in such a scenario there will be a need to have a bigger parking space to accommodate vehicles apart from artefacts and objects of heritage value the mughal museum will have facilities like an auditorium audiovideo gallery among others the government plans to develop agra street caf on the lines of a french shopping arcade which will have multicuisine restaurants food stalls coffee shops pavilion and furniture shops among many other things the heritage centre will promote art culture education and tourism it will also have auditorium art and craft centre librarycumreading room yoga and wellness centre hostel office and residential blocks