Lucknow: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has formally begun the probe into the controversial multi-crore Taj heritage corridor project in Agra, as ordered by the Supreme Court, by questioning senior officials of the state's Environment and Finance Departments, official sources said.

About eight officials of the Environment and Finance Departments were questioned on July 25 by CBI sleuths on the basis of the details made available to it by the Uttar Pradesh government through the files submitted to the agency earlier in the week, sources said.

The agency has also decided to summon some other senior officials and sought additional information from the Environment Department, sources added.

The Supreme Court on July 16 ordered a CBI probe after it noticed major irregularities and illegalities in the construction of the Taj corridor project and gave the agency two months' time to complete the inquiry and submit its report.

A CBI team is likely to visit Agra to make an on-the-spot assessment of the construction works carried out there without the mandatory permission.

PTI