Ayodhya outlay to define BJP agenda for Uttar Pradesh 2022 assembly elections

LUCKNOW: Budgetary sanctions for schemes run by the UP culture and tourism departments for financial year 2021 will outline ruling BJP’s agenda for the 2022 assembly elections.
Sources said that both the Centre and state governments are banking largely on the Ram Temple to showcase their achievements in 2022. Officials in the two departments have held several brainstorming sessions to give a large share to Ayodhya.
“The central government has already formed a trust for construction of the temple. But a lot has to be done around it. Both culture and tourism departments are pitching in with the best,” said a senior officer. It is for this that the state government has proposed setting up of the Ramjanmabhoomi Teertha development board.
The board — which will pool in funds from various departments, particularly culture and tourism — will be responsible for development of tourist facilities of international standards in the temple town. Sources said that activities worth Rs 250 crore have been charted for implementation for the first two years.
Also, projects related to the towering Ram statue and Navya Ayodhya are most likely to get their due. The list includes building gardens, theme park, five star hotels, digital museum and convention centre. Likewise, the state may contribute towards the ongoing facelift of the Ayodhya railway station being done by the ministry of railways.
Budgetary sanctions for Ayodhya may come from other heads as well. Projects to improve road and air connectivity with Ayodhya are also on the anvil. According to officials, the CM wants the bus terminus in Ayodhya to be augmented to be able to hold 3,000-4000 buses at a time. Likewise, allocation for the medical college in Ayodhya is also expected through the medical education department.
Push to religious tourism has always been the top priority of Yogi government since the budget placed in 2017.
Significant budgetary sanctions were made for development of tourist facilities in Varanasi (Rs 200 crore for cultural centre), Gorakhpur (Rs 25 crore for development of Ramgarh Taal) and Vindhyanchal (Rs 10 crore for infrastructure building), in addition to allocations for Ayodhya (Rs 3 crore for Ramayana Conclave) and Mathura-Braj region. The government also organised the first grand Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya and scaled up the Holi celebrations in Brij.
In 2018, sanctions for Mathura-Vrindavan were made. The government also formed the Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad to promote religious tourism in the region. Besides, projects in Ayodhya and Varanasi were allocated more funds.
In 2019-20s the tourism department provided for Rs 125 crore for infrastructural facilities in Uttar Pradesh Braj Teerth, while Rs 101 crore was proposed for integrated development of major tourist places in Ayodhya. Among other projects, culture and tourism departments provided construction of boundary walls around Ramlila ground in different cities.