The central government has decided to shift Taj Mahal to the national capital to celebrate 100 years of Delhi as the capital city of India. The master plan was approved in a cabinet meeting early this morning; the relocation work is slated to begin in February next year and is believed to conclude by the next birthday of Delhi. The move is aimed at boosting the image of the capital city as well as earning revenues from tourism.

“Tourist visits to Taj Mahal will go up many times if the monument is shifted to Delhi,” tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahay explained the rationale, “Last year US President Barack Obama had come to India but he couldn’t visit Taj Mahal as it was in Agra, away from Delhi. We have been working on this plan ever since.”

Mr. Sahay claimed that with Delhi completing 100 years, the government thought it an opportune moment to execute this pending task. He denied that there was anything “wrong” in the move.