Tatas to build 'Museum of Temples' in Ayodhya, UP cabinet okays proposal
- In Reports
- 09:57 PM, Jun 25, 2024
- Myind Staff
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet, in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, approved a proposal from Tata Sons to construct a 'museum of temples' in Ayodhya at a cost of ₹650 crore. Tourism Minister Jaivir Singh shared details of the decision, stating that the tourism department would grant Tata Sons land for the museum on a 90-year lease for a nominal amount of Re 1.
Mr. Singh mentioned that Tata Sons had proposed the project through the Central government, committing to build the museum under its corporate social responsibility fund. He made these remarks during a press conference in Lucknow following the cabinet meeting.
Discussions about establishing a 'museum of temples' in Ayodhya have been ongoing since last year. In September, Chief Minister Adityanath and senior officials presented the concept to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. An official familiar with the meeting stated, "The prime minister appreciated the idea of the temple museum greatly, and there was a detailed discussion about it."
Back then, the plan aimed to feature the history and architecture of renowned temples across India. There were also discussions about incorporating a light-and-sound show at the proposed museum.
In addition to approving the 'museum of temples' project, the Uttar Pradesh state cabinet on Tuesday also gave the green light to another proposal from Tata Sons. This second proposal involves carrying out development works in the temple town of Ayodhya, with an additional investment of ₹100 crore, as informed by Minister Singh. Tata Sons serves as the primary investment holding company and promoter of various Tata Group companies.
During the cabinet meeting, several other proposals were approved, as announced by Minister Singh. These included the launch of helicopter services in Lucknow, Prayagraj, and Kapilvastu under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, with plans to construct helipads to facilitate these services. Additionally, the cabinet approved a proposal to transform dormant heritage buildings into tourist attractions, aimed at enhancing tourism in the state.
Minister Singh further stated that three specific heritage buildings—Kothi Roshan Dulha in Lucknow, Barsana Jal Mahal in Mathura, and Shukla Talab in Kanpur—have been identified for development into tourist destinations. He also mentioned that researchers will be chosen under the Mukhya Mantri Tourism Fellowship Programme to support these initiatives.
In addition, Urban Development Minister A K Sharma, who was also present at the press briefing, disclosed that the state cabinet approved plans totaling ₹351.40 crores for the expansion of the sewage system in the outskirts of Ayodhya under the Amrit Yojana-2 programme. Minister A K Sharma explained that under the Amrit Yojana scheme, the financial contribution share required from local bodies serving a population of 10 lakh has been reduced from 30% to 15%.
Similarly, for civic bodies serving a population size between 1 lakh to 10 lakh, their share has been reduced from 20% to 10%, the minister added.
Image Source: The Indian Express
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