Between January and December 2024, Uttar Pradesh welcomed 65 crore visitors, including 14 lakh foreign tourists. Although the number of visitors was behind other popular destinations, the state government, will this year witness an unprecedented surge, thanks to the Maha Kumbh Mela which is taking place from January 13 to February 26.
Meanwhile, the state’s finance minister told the house that ₹400 crore was allocated for the Chief Minister’s Tourist Places Development Scheme. A major part of the allocation will be for Ayodhya, with ₹150 crore set aside for developing tourism infrastructure in the holy city.
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Additionally, ₹125 crore has been earmarked for Mathura, ₹100 crore for Naimisharanya, and ₹50 crore for Chitrakoot. Moreover, ₹100 crore has been allocated for constructing wayside amenities along major state and national highways to improve convenience for travellers, according to an official statement, PTI reported.
Further, a budget provision of ₹100 crore was allocated for land acquisition, alongside ₹50 crore for developments as part of the Shri Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple Mathura-Vrindavan corridor. Similarly, ₹100 crore was allocated for land purchases, with another ₹100 crore for large-scale construction at the Maa Vindhyavasini Temple, Maa Ashtabhuja Temple, and Maa Kali Khoh Temple in Mirzapur district.
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To preserve and promote religious heritage, ₹30 crore has been allocated for the renovation and reconstruction of protected temples. Additionally, ₹100 crore has been sanctioned to establish the Ved Vigyan Kendra in Naimisharanya.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
