Removal of temples, mosques from Ram Path planned

The Ayodhya administration is planning to remove religious structures from the 13-km-long Ram Path leading to the Ram temple in Ayodhya, but it wants to build a consensus on the issue before any such initiative.

In the first phase, the administration is holding talks with Muslim religious leaders for removing around 14 mosques from the stretch. Thereafter, officials will consult seers for removing 30 temples from Ram Path. Amit Singh, additional district magistrate (administration), informed that Muslim religious leaders and mosque managements were being consulted for removing mosques from the 13-km-long Ram Path.

“Before removing any structure (mosque), consent of Muslim religious leaders will be taken,” said Singh. Seers will also be consulted before removing temples, he added.

Out of 30 temples, there are some that do not have any priest and locals perform puja/other rituals here. In such cases, corporators will take up the issue of removal of temples with local residents. The state government has approved three road widening projects for Ayodhya. All will lead up to the Ram Janmabhoomi. And for widening these roads, a large number of shops/ establishments will be demolished. Displaced shopkeepers are being compensated.

PROHIBITED AREA

According to the Ayodhya administration, 100 metres from the Ram Janmabhoomi will be prohibited area while 200 metres ahead of this area will be ‘controlled’ area.

No new construction will be allowed within 100 metres from the Ram Janmabhoomi. The existing structures could be extended (high) up to 7.5 metres only. New construction could be only 15.5m high in 200m beyond this area. The UP Adityanath government has set a deadline of December 2023 for completing all the three pathways leading to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, for which the government has approved ₹700 crore.