UP PROPELLED TOWARDS BECOMING RELIGIOUS TOURISM HUB

LUCKNOW: To bring religious tourism destinations of Uttar Pradesh on the national and international map, the state budget has focused on augmenting tourism-related facilities in pilgrimage centres across the state, including Ayodhya and Varanasi.

A provision of Rs 250 crore has been made for the chief minister’s ‘ Tourist Places Scheme’ in which one prominent tourist destination in each assembly constituency will be developed.

For the biggest religious event of the country, Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, the budget has proposed Rs 100 crore.

For temple towns of Ayodhya and Varanasi, the budget has proposed Rs 100 crore each for development and beautification of tourism-related facilities.

For renovation of the historic Surya Kund in Ayodhya and other development work, the budget has also proposed an additional Rs 140 crore.

For the proposed road widening project in Ayodhya that will lead up to the Ram Janmabhoomi, Rs 300 crore have been proposed.

Keeping in view the increase in footfall after the Ram Temple comes up, the government has proposed Rs 209.70 crore for public facilities and multi-level parking in Ayodhya.

In Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency, Varanasi, an allocation of Rs 77 crore has been proposed for expansion of the approach road from the bank of river Ganga to the Kashi Vishwanath Dham.

The government has also proposed Rs 50 lakh for developing an online integrated temple information system.

In addition to this, a provision of Rs 3.50 crore has been proposed in the budget for Uttar Pradesh Vindhya Dham Teerth Vikas Parishad and Rs 3.50 core for Uttar Pradesh Chitrakoot Dham pilgrimage development.

FOR MAHA KUMBH 2025, THE BUDGET HAS PROPOSED RS 100 CRORE