Temple town Ayodhya’s transformation is being viewed by the planners as possibly the “biggest transformation in the history of the ancient city”. It is just not the temple complex but the entire town that could soon become from being a sleepy hamlet into a bustling metro. With some 200 developmental projects worth `30,923 crore, Ayodhya would be India’s first temple town made in recent times. It is virtually a greenfield project, considering the giant makeover under way.
from MEDIA REPORTS
It is one project after another that will start seeing the light of the day, as the temple complex itself is ready to open in the second half of January, 2024. Prime Minister Modi is said to do the first puja, heralding a new dawn for the ancient city.
As a starter, the airport would provide the much-needed quick connectivity. Most of this is said to be completed, with some 821 acres of land acquired. Construction of the runway, the installation of CAT-1 and RESA facilities that facilitate night landings or landings in extreme weather conditions, are done. The construction of the ATC tower has also been completed. This is good news for the city. It will facilitate visitor traffic, and announcements from domestic airlines are eagerly awaited.
Final approvals from Airport Authority of India (AAI) are awaited; several factors like the instrument landing system (ILS), will soon get a nod. Final touches are being given to the terminal building, expected to be functional in time for the inauguration. It is learnt that to start with, 60-seater aircraft will land at the airport, but by 2025, when the final phase of the airport is completed, it will be ready for Boeing airplanes. These should provide opportunities for international operations as well.
The railway station story is more advanced, as this would perhaps be a backbone to the early connectivity. Images that have been circulated, stressing the theme of the Ramayana, impressive architecture and depiction herald a new era for Indian rail infrastructure. Estimated to cost around `620 crore, the railway station revamp was another crucial project for Ayodhya’s development.
Access to the temple complex from within the city has been taken up on a war footing. Crammed lanes will no longer hinder the routes leading to the Ram Temple. With allocated funds of around `797 crore, the widening of roads has been undertaken. Major revamp includes the 2-km-long Ram Janmabhoomi Path that connects Sugriv Quila to Ram Mandir. Then there is Bhakti Path, the 850-meter stretch that connects Shringar Hat to Ram Janmabhoomi. And the third one is Ram Path corridor, the 13-km-long stretch from Sahadatganj to Naya Ghat. The last one has seen hundreds of establishments cleared, to ensure speedy implementation.
City revamp means a beautification drive covering the numerous old Ashrams, ancient ponds and temples. Various ponds that had dried up, are being restored as water bodies, streetscaping and illuminations are underway to give the city a year-round festive look.
In a press conference, which UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held in Ayodhya, he said the ongoing projects would be completed this year itself. On the occasion of Deepotsav, CM Adityanath gave credit to the double-engine government, where both the centre and the state were determined to develop Ayodhya as the most beautiful experience.
