Why Agraâs metro rail may wreck its historical heritage and environment Records obtained under the RTI Act show the project is being built without prior approvals from the National Monument Authority and the environment ministry. On December 7, prime minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rs 8,379-crore Agra metro rail project at a virtual ceremony. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath was also virtually present. The ceremony masked the fact that both their governments rushed the project without obtaining permissions from the agencies meant to protect the cityâs heritage and the environment. Records show that between September 2020 and inauguration day, the National Monument Authority, or NMA, the apex agency to protect monuments, had at least twice refused to allow the project in its current form because of its proximity to the cityâs iconic monuments, including Agra Fort, Delhi Gate, and Jama Masjid.