Centre, UP hold talks on Ramayana Museum deadline

RITA BAHUGUNA Joshi, who recently took charge in the Uttar Pradesh cabinet as Tourism Minister, met Union Culture and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma in Delhi Thursday and discussed the proposed Ramayana Museum in Ayodhya, whichwillbebuiltnottoofarfrom the disputed temple site, on “the lines of Akshardham temples in Gujarat and Delhi”.

A 25-acre plot of land, said to be less than 10 km away from the disputed site, was granted to the Culture Ministry by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath within days of the BJP coming to power in the state. Now, the Centre has increased the budget allocation for the museum. Officials from the Culture Ministry said the delegationfromthestatewasbriefed in no uncertain terms that the project has to be completed in the next 18 months, well ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Sharma told The Indian Express, “We had allocated Rs 154 crore for the museum, but now the allocation has been increased.” The minister has asked Joshi’s department to submit a detailed project report in the next 15 days so that the allocation could be finalised and the work can take off swiftly.

During the meeting, Joshi and Sharma also directed their respective officials to submit detailed reports for other projects under the Ramayana Circuit at the earliest so that the “18month deadline for completion of projects could be met”.

The new dispensation under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is learnt to have assured the Centre of speeding up acquisition and transfer of land for these projects. “Our ministry has been ready with funds but the previous state government wasn’t forthcoming on tourism projects. As much as Rs 400 crore of allocated fund was lying unused till March 31,” said Sharma.

Referring to the disputed site, Joshi said, “Whatever is sub-judice, we can’t comment on that. But everything around that will be developed from the point of view of tourism. The roads will be beautified, markets will be renovated and the railway station and bus stand will be given a facelift in the next one year. The panchkosi parikrama path will be beautified.”

The government plans to develop Ramayana-based tourist centres as part of the Ramayana Circuit. The Ramayan Circuit is one of 13 circuits the Centre is planning to develop as part of its Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Ramayan Circuit projects are proposed in three cities of UP — Ayodhya, Shrinhverpur and Chitrakoot.