The Uttar Pradesh government has sanctioned Rs 797 crore for the renovation and enlargement of roads leading to the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The decision was taken during a state Cabinet meeting chaired by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
“The construction of the Ram temple is in full swing in Ayodhya. To avoid crowds on big occasions in Ayodhya and deal with it, the cabinet has approved the broadening of the 12.940 km road from Sadatganj to Nayaghat on the lines of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor,” Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh told the media.
In addition, he said, the road from Faizabad to the Hanumangarhi and Ram temples would be widened, and shopkeepers would be rehabilitated.
There is a two-year deadline set by the Cabinet for the completion of the work on the Rs 797.69 crore project.
The minister said that the government’s focus is to develop UP as a centre for religious tourism, which has enormous revenue generation potential.
He said that the government is working to improve air and road connectivity as well as provide basic infrastructure facilities to meet the needs of the people.
Last month, news agency IANS reported that the Uttar Pradesh government is planning to establish Naimish Dham as a Vedic city and the global centre for spiritual and religious tourism.
As per Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s instructions, an action plan has already been prepared to develop the Naimisharanya pilgrimage site in four phases like Kashi, Ayodhya and Mathura.
Additionally, the UP CM has directed authorities to begin electric bus and helicopter services between Lucknow and Sitapur as soon as possible in order to facilitate pilgrims from across the country and abroad traveling to Naimish Dham.
In order to complete the project, the Tourism, Urban Development, Public Works, and Irrigation departments will work together.
Among the prominent projects to be developed in the first phase are the Chakra pilgrimage site, Maa Lalita Devi Temple, Dadhichi Kund and Sita Kund, and in the second phase, Dadhichi Kund, Rudravart Mahadev, Devdeshwar Temple and Kashi Kund.
There are also separate action plans for urban and regional development.
Furthermore, the CM has instructed authorities to ensure clean water is available in all ponds of Naimisharanya, renovate the Chakra pilgrimage site, and beautify Dadhichi Kund and Maa Lalita Devi Temple.
A decision has also been made to expand Misrikh Municipality and develop the Kosi Parikrama Path.
