New Delhi: Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura have got special treatment in the Yogi Adityanath government’s maiden Budget for Uttar Pradesh with Rs 1,240 crore earmarked for Ramayan, Buddhist and Krishna circuits in these cities. 

The budgetary allocation has been made under the SwadeshDarshanYojana with an objective to give an impetus to cultural heritage in the state.

The state government also allocated Rs 800 crore under the ‘Prasad Yojana’ to develop infrastructural facilities in Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura. Besides, it granted Rs 200 crore to set up a cultural centre in Varanasi, the LokSabha constituency of Prime Minister NarendraModi.

The government set aside Rs 25 crore for helicopter services to promote tourism in the state. The state allocated Rs 25 crore for development of water sports at RamgarhTaal in Gorakhpur, while it set aside Rs 10 crore for tourism development in Vindhyachal, Rs 5 crore for rural tourism development in Nagla-Chandrabhan in Mathura, and Rs 3 crore for organising Ramayana Conclave. It earmarked Rs 20 crore to construct KailashMansrovarBhawan in Ghaziabad and Rs 500 crore for preparations of ArdhaKumbhaMela in Allahabad.

It was also decided that documents related to Gumnami Baba preserved in Ram Katha Sangrahalya will be digitised. The government has also taken resolve to hold special programmes like ‘LokMalhar’ in Gorakhpur and ‘SawanJhoola’ in Ayodhya. The budget also made provision for Krishna Sangrahalya to be set up in Mathura.

In addition, the government also laid out plans to organise monthly cultural programmes in various districts under PanditDeenDayalUpadhyayJanmShatabdiSamaroh. It earmarked Rs 135.26 crore for cultural programmes. The state set aside Rs 20 crore to build a modern auditorium at Gorakhpur, the native place of the chief minister. It allocated Rs 1 crore to set up of GeetaShodhSansthan in Mathura. The government granted Rs 1 crore to provide subsidy to folk artistes for purchase of instruments for promoting folk arts.