PROJECT REPORT – TAJ MAHAL CONSTRUCTION

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Project Name: CONSTRUCTION OF TAJMAHAL AT AGRA, INDIA

Introduction:

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built

by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as
"the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage".

Background:

It was in the memory of his beloved wife that Shah Jahan built a magnificent monument as a tribute to her, which
we today know as the "Taj Mahal". Taj Mahal is constructed on the bank of Yamuna River which Shah Jahan has
taken plot of land from Raja Jai singh. Shah Jahan provided the vision behind the entire concept, he was assisted in
his endeavor by a number of architects to complete his dreams.

Salient features:

1. Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian,
Turkish and Indian architectural styles
2. The Taj is marked by perfect symmetry and harmony, be it the shape of the four towering minarets; the
cupolas (chhatris); the central arch in the façade; the perfectly arranged arched recesses on both the story. ;
the intricate pietra dura (stone inlay work); the delicate lattice work on marble windows or the magnificent
dome. Even the mosque and the guesthouse (mehmankhana) are a mirror image of one another.
3. Masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome-builders and other artisans were
requisitioned from the whole of the empire and also from Central Asia and Iran.
4. The construction of Taj Mahal started in the year 1631 and was completed around 1653, employing
thousands of artisans and craftsmen. It took approximately 22 years to build.
5. The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia and over 1,000 elephants were
used to transport building materials.  
6. Each tower of Tajmahal is 133 feet tall and building is 186 feet high and 70 wide.
7. A fifteen km tamped-earth ramp was built to transport marble and materials to the construction site and
teams of twenty or thirty oxen pulled the blocks on specially constructed wagons. 
8. An elaborate post-and-beam pulley system was used to raise the blocks into desired position
9. Water was drawn from the river by a series of purs, an animal-powered rope and bucket mechanism, into a
large storage tank and raised to a large distribution tank.
10. The plinth and tomb took roughly 12 years to complete. The remaining parts of the complex took an
additional 10 years and were completed in order of minarets, mosque and jawab, and gateway.
11. The monument was built entirely out of white marble, which was brought in from all over India and central
Asia, expenditure of approximately 32 million rupees (approx. US $68000) was done at that time.

Critical Success Factors:

1. Effective Leadership, governance and management system.

2. Efficient project management (Planning, directing, monitoring & controlling).
3. Resource management (Availability of resources).
4. Proper coordination and follow up.
5. Skilled work force.
6. Well defined architectural designs & layout.

Project Success / Failure:

 PROJECT REPORT – TAJ MAHAL CONSTRUCTION

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The TajMahal is a perfect example of a complex project which was completed successfully. This is perfect examples
of successful project implementation. The Taj Mahal was constructed in 17th Century.

It has reported that about 20,000 persons worked for nearly 22 years to complete this wonderful creature.

It shows that their planning, coordination and execution was excellence and efficient though at that time technology
is not advanced, resources was very limited and expertise was less as compare to today’s world.

In building of Taj Mahal, they used material and skilled designers from all over the world without any interruptions,
shows well-organized resource management.

Shah Jahan was a great leader, he had clear vision and done pre-defined planning. He was having good experienced
project management team with all expertise like architects, designers, engineers and managers which has delivered
the” Seven Wonders of the World”.

References:

1. http://www.ukessays.com/essays/management/skills-needed-by-project-managers-
management-essay.php#ixzz2RYYYMowR

2. http://www.tigerlandsafaris.com/taj-mahal-holidays/design-layout-taj-mahal.html

3. http://www.iims-opera.in/index.php/resources/92-collection/20-project-managementa-green-
perspective

4. http://www.tajmahal.org.uk/history.html

5. http://delhitasa.blogspot.in/2012/04/taj-mahal-construction-details-in-india.html