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Lucknow, 29 October (Hindu). Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Tuesday reviewed the ongoing and proposed projects related to Prayagraj Mahakumbh, Ayodhyadham development and tourism development in Naimisharanya Dham in Lucknow. Along with the Chief Secretary of the state, various departmental Additional Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries informed about the progress reports of the projects related to their respective departments and received guidance. In the special meeting, apart from the Minister of Tourism and Culture of the State Government, senior officials of the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh were present.
The Chief Minister said that Prayagraj Mahakumbh, which is going to be organized this year after a gap of 12 years, will be more divine and grand compared to all the Kumbh festivals till now. This intangible cultural heritage of humanity will introduce the whole world to the glorious tradition, diverse social environment and folk faith of the eternal Indian culture.
The Chief Minister said that in the 2019 Kumbh, the cooperation of a total of 5,721 institutions was taken, while in the Maha Kumbh, about 10 thousand institutions are working with one purpose. All necessary arrangements are being made for the convenience of the devotees in the Mahakumbh Mela area spread over 4000 hectares divided into 25 sectors. Arrangements are being made for 12 km long ghats, parking in 1850 hectares, 450 km checkered plates, 30 pontoon bridges, 67 thousand street lights, 1,50,000 toilets, 1,50,000 tents as well as more than 25 thousand public accommodation. A special action plan has been prepared for security and convenience on the special bathing festivals of Paush Purnima, Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, Magh Purnima and Mahashivratri.
The Chief Minister informed the Union Minister about the ongoing work related to tourism development in holy places like Hanuman Temple Corridor, Akshayavat Patalpuri, Saraswati Well, Bhardwaj Ashram, Dwadash Madhav Temple, Shivalay Park, Dashashwamedh Temple, Nagavasuki Temple and directed the officials to All work should be completed by 30th November in every case.
Chief Minister Yogi said that the state government is determined to ensure that every devotee in the Mahakumbh has access to bathing in the unpolluted and clean Ganga. Zero discharge is being ensured in the river.
While reviewing the action plan of Prayagraj Mahakumbh, the Union Minister said that the action plan for organizing Prayagraj Mahakumbh prepared under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi is holistic. It has all the ingredients that are necessary for the grandeur and success of any global event. Reviewing the progress of the projects of all the concerned departments including Urban Development, Irrigation, NHAI, Tourism, Culture one by one, he expressed confidence that all the work will be completed on time.
The Union Minister said that in a big event like Mahakumbh, four points (information, cleanliness, communication and security) are most important, which should be worked on with a holistic approach. Getting correct information to everyone, better sanitation system in the entire area, strong communication system and arrangements for everyone's safety will be the main factors to make Maha Kumbh a successful event.
The Union Minister said that Mahakumbh-2025 is a big opportunity to take the tourism of Uttar Pradesh to new heights. Prepare an app for the convenience of foreign tourists in Mahakumbh. Also put a barcode on the signage, by scanning which tourists can not only get information about the concerned site but can also get information about various locations in the fair area. He said that the provision of one touch help in the Mahakumbh app for the police helpline should be convenient. Display the QR code of the Mahakumbh app at all airports, railway stations, bus stations and major places in the country.
The Union Minister said that people coming to Mahakumbh would like to go to other tourist places besides Prayagraj and there is immense potential for this in Uttar Pradesh. In such a situation, a tour plan should be prepared by the tourism department. Our effort should be to identify important but little-known places in the state from tourism point of view and try to attract tourists there.
The Union Tourism Minister expressed the need to add new tourist destinations of Uttar Pradesh in the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Government of India and said that the proposal in this regard should be sent as soon as possible.
Union Minister Shekhawat said that the Union Culture Ministry is making preparations so that the culture of entire India can be seen in the Mahakumbh. He said that for better organization, it would be appropriate that the various cultural programs held in the fair area should be organized in coordination with both the Central Tourism Ministry and the Tourism Department of Uttar Pradesh. In this regard, a committee should be formed for better coordination between the Culture Department of Uttar Pradesh and the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India. He also directed for wide publicity of every cultural event to be held in Mahakumbh, and also said that the venue of cultural event should be such a place in the fair area where maximum devotees and tourists can easily reach.
Reviewing the projects of Naimisharanya tourism development, the Chief Minister said that with the aim of overall development of Naimisharanya, the sacred penance place of 88 thousand sages, the state government has recently constituted Shri Naimisharanya Dham Teerth Vikas Parishad. This is the place where our sages did the unique work of recording the eternal knowledge. The state government is encouraging all possibilities of religious tourism development here. This holy place has been included under the Swadesh Darshan-2 scheme. After the revival of Naimishdham, the arrival of tourists/devotees from across the country and the world will increase rapidly.
The Chief Minister said that with the aim of respecting Sanatan faith and encouraging Vedic knowledge, a Ved Vigyan Kendra will be established as soon as possible in the holy Naimisharanya Dham located in Sitapur district. Budgetary provision has also been made in this regard. With the establishment of Veda Science Study Centre, study work can be done to take the knowledge preserved in the Vedas and Puranas among the common people.
The Chief Minister said that work is being done on a plan to run the tourist accommodation house located in Neemsar on PPP mode. This will provide convenience to tourists and also enable revenue collection.
The Chief Minister said that the main entrances and other gates of Chakratirtha in Naimisharanya-Mishrikh are being developed as corridors. Maa Lalita Devi Complex is under construction. All the works of the fixed project including the entrance pavilion, visitor facility centre, construction of altars for Aarti, development of Mahadev temple at Misrikh and devotee facility development in the ashram premises are being done by the tourism department. Similarly, construction works like renovation of Sitakund, Yatri Bhawan, tourist accommodation etc. are also going on. A heliport is also being constructed here for the convenience of tourists and devotees. The Union Minister and the Chief Minister gave instructions to complete the construction works within the stipulated time.
The Union Minister also reviewed the progress of the Vision Document 2047 prepared for Ayodhyadham development. Expressing happiness over the work being done for 'Navy Ayodhya', the Union Minister stressed on the timeliness of the projects.