₹500 cr outlay for airport at Ayodhya

LUCKNOW: The Yogi Adityanathled Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday allocated ₹500 crore for the construction of an airport in Ayodhya to boost tourism and pilgrim traffic to the temple town.

An additional ₹85 crore has been earmarked for the development of tourism infrastructure and ₹10 crore for the renovation of the Tulsi Smarak Bhawan, a museum that houses a collection of rare paintings, ivory articles, photographs and antiquities depicting the life of Lord Rama.

The allocation follows the Centre’s announcement of the formation of the Sri Ram Janambhoomi Teertha Kshetra for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Trust is likely to hold its first meeting in Delhi on Wednesday.

UP finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, who tabled the budget in the state assembly, said the government was committed to give a boost to the tourism sector by developing pilgrim centres and tourist spots.

UP chief minister Adityanath praised Khanna’s budget. “Besides fulfilling the aspirations of the people, the state government has also respected their faith by allocating funds for development of pilgrim centres. Funds have been allocated for the construction of an airport in Ayodhya. The soon-to-be constructed airport in Ayodhya will have air connectivity with other cities in the state and across the country,” he said.

Raju Das, a senior priest of Hanumangarhi temple, said: “There is a dire need for an airport in the temple town to put Ayodhya on the international tourism map...”.

A state government spokesperson said the authorities had already announced the construction of a bus station, water transport facility, digital museum, river front development and a cobblestone-paved pedestrian path in Ayodhya.