CBRE Submits Draft Project Report for 840-Hectare Heritage City at Raya

What Was Decided

CBRE South Asia Pvt Ltd, tasked six months prior by YEIDA, submitted its draft project report (DPR) to the Yamuna Authority on Monday, June 14, 2021, with representatives scheduled to present findings to authority officials the following day. The report was then forwarded to the Uttar Pradesh government for further review and incorporation of suggested modifications.

Project Scope and Land Use

The Heritage City proposal spans 840 hectares encompassing a 731-hectare tourism zone and 109-hectare riverfront development. The project covers four villages: Pani Gop, Deewana, Dhaku, and part of Kalyanpur.

The vision outlined in CBRE's report integrates cultural and spiritual infrastructure with modern urban amenities. The plan envisions connecting the site to Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, and Govardhan through dedicated expressway corridors, positioning the new city as a satellite tourism and pilgrimage hub serving the Braj region.

Planning Methodology and Benchmarks

While preparing the draft report, CBRE's team studied heritage cities including Malacca City in Malaysia and Vietnam as global benchmarks. The analysis assessed heritage development models from international destinations to inform the master plan for Raya.

Strategic Positioning and Constraints

The site benefits from multiple connectivity advantages. The site has connectivity via the proposed Delhi-Varanasi bullet train line, with Raya Railway Station located just 5 km away. The Yamuna Expressway provides primary access to the greater NCR and Agra corridor.

However, environmental and heritage protection constraints apply. The location falls within the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), which restricts polluting activity, requiring the development to comply with air and water quality preservation standards established to protect the Taj Mahal region.

What Happens Next

The submitted DPR entered the government review and approval pipeline. Authority and state officials were scheduled to evaluate CBRE's recommendations and forward the report to the Uttar Pradesh government with suggested modifications. Following government approval, YEIDA would proceed with subsequent phases including land acquisition assessment, developer bid preparation, and infrastructure planning. The project remained in the planning and approval phase as of June 2021, with implementation timelines dependent on government clearance and subsequent tender processes.