Karnataka writes to UP govt on setting up Yatri Nivas in Ayodhya

BENGALURU: With less than two weeks to go, the whole nation is eagerly waiting for the day of the consecration ceremony at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Keeping in mind the large number of devotees who are expected to travel to Ayodhya, the Karnataka government has written a letter to the Uttar Pradesh government seeking allotment of five acres of land for construction of a Yatri Bhavan for the their benefit.

The Muzrai Department of the state has noted that a large number of pilgrims and Ram devotees from Karnataka are expected to visit Ayodhya in the coming days and hence, a guest house may be constructed for their accommodation with arrangements for food. The Muzrai department plans to construct guest houses and a request had been made for arranging accommodation at a cost of Rs 10 crore.

The Muzrai Department has sought  space near the Saryu River for the construction of guest houses. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had also written a letter to the Uttar Pradesh government in August 2023 on the same. Prior to this, BJP senior leader B S Yediyurappa wrote a letter to the UP CM in 2020 as well. Now the UP Government’s Housing Board has responded to the state’s request. The Muzrai Department is making the necessary preparations for the construction of guest houses and a cultural centre in Ayodhya for the benefit of pilgrims from  Karnataka.

In the letter, it is pointed out that devotees from Karnataka also visit Ram Mandir in huge numbers and a need to construct a well-equipped Yatri Nivas near the temple premises has arisen. So a proposal to provide 5 acres of land near the temple premises had been put up earlier.

The UP Housing and Development Board, in its response, noted that it is developing a greenfield township in the holy city of Ayodhya on both sides of the National Highway up to the banks of the holy river Saryu. “Cultural and institutional plots are planned in our scheme, which will be allotted according to the provisions provided in UP Awas Evam Vikas Parishad Adhiniyam 1965 as well as related rules as amended in 2016. The Board will duly inform the CM about the cost of the land and other conditions”, it said.