Centre to launch infra projects worth Rs 5,000 crore in Ayodhya

NEW DELHI: The Centre will launch half a dozen highway and infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,300 crore in Ayodhya on Friday including the improvement of "84 Kosi Parikrama Marg" and the Ram Van Gaman Marg. The two projects have religious significance, particularly for pilgrims who visit the holy city in Uttar Pradesh .

The foundation stone for all the projects will be laid by highways minister Nitin Gadkari and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Though the projects were planned earlier in 2015, the government is kick starting construction just before the poll dates are announced and also at a time when the Ram Mandir issue has become the talk of the nation .

According to highway ministry officials, in the first phase, about 91 km of the 84 Kosi Parikrama Marg (250 km) will be expanded to four lanes with an investment of nearly Rs 896 crore. Huge number of pilgrims take the route to complete the tour around the city. This stretch will be developed as a national highway. Another significant project is the construction of around 48 km stretch of Ayodhya-Chitrakoot of the Ram Van Gaman Marg. The road provides connectivity to Janakpur in Nepal. According to the epic, after their marriage, Lord Ram and Sita took this route from Janakpur to Ayodhya.