Critical River Transport for Agra's Economic Revival: Problems and Solutions

Abstract

It's safe to say that everywhere you look, you can see evidence of how important transportation has been to the growth and development of human civilization. It is true that conquests and expansions have been accomplished both by sea and by river travel inland. When possible, travelling by boat was a faster option than driving. The Yamuna riverfront in Agra quickly rose to prominence as the Mughal nobility's preferred location for living close to the Fort. Even into the first quarter of the twentieth century, the Yamuna River was a vital transportation artery. The paper establishes the significance of the Yamuna to the city of Agra and emphasises the importance of water transport as a vital mode of freight movement in the early modern period. Within the scope of this article are the many municipalities that played pivotal roles in facilitating riverine commerce to and from Agra. The present research also tracks the development of river transport in Agra, recording the quantity and importance of travel and trade along the riverine route during its heyday in the early modern period. The collapse of river transport in the region with the advent of the railroad system is also discussed. Finally, the paper makes an effort to present potential future obstacles to a renaissance of river transport in this region and provides some recommendations to revitalise the river transport system in Agra.