The Uttar Pradesh government in its budget allocated INR 2,500 crore for the preparations of Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 against INR 621.55 crore for the financial year 2022-23.
The religious fair is held after every 12 years.
A state government official said the work on widening and beautifying three access roads in Ayodhya will be finished within the next two years.
“In anticipation of a potential increase in tourism brought on by the construction of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in the district of Ayodhya, it is planned that work on widening and beautifying three access roads will be finished within the next two years,” Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said while presenting the budget.
“An arrangement of INR 50 crore as a grant for developing basic infrastructure facilities in religious and historically significant urban bodies of the state. A provision of INR 1,000 crore has been proposed for the development of roads related to religious relevance,” he said.
A provision of INR 2,500 crore has been made in the budget for the grand event of the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, compared to INR 621.55 crore in the year 2022-23, he said.
The renovation and beautification process of Maa Vindhyavasini Devi Temple, Maa Ashtabhuji Devi Temple and Kali Khoh Temple in Mirzapur district is also under progress, Khanna added.
A proposal for the establishment of ‘Bhajan Sandhya Sthal’ in Prayagraj district and veda science study centre in Naimisharanya, a famous ‘taposthali’ (hot spot) in Sitapur has also been made, he said.
He said in 2022, more than 24 crore 87 lakh tourists visited Uttar Pradesh, of which more than 4 lakh 10 thousand were foreigners.
Tourism development and beautification of Ayodhya, Varanasi, Chitrakoot, Vindhyachal, Prayagraj, Naimisharanya, Gorakhpur, Mathura, Bateshwar Dham and other important tourist places are also under progress, he said.
The development, renovation and beautification work costing INR 300 crore is being carried out under the chief minister’s tourism promotion scheme, the finance minister said. (Source NDTV)