Lucknow, Feb 20 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government has earmarked over Rs 400 crore for religious tourism in the state, particularly in districts that record high footfall of pilgrims in the Budget for 2025-26 on Thursday.

Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, while presenting the Budget in the assembly, highlighted the state's remarkable achievements in tourism and outlined future plans to strengthen infrastructure and religious tourism.

Between January and December 2024, Uttar Pradesh witnessed an unprecedented rise in tourist footfall, with more than 65 crore visitors, including 14 lakh foreign tourists, reaffirming its position as one of India's most visited states.

The Finance Minister further told the house that Rs 400 crore has been allocated for the Chief Minister's Tourist Places Development Scheme. A major portion of this Budget is dedicated to Ayodhya, with Rs 150 crore set aside for developing tourism infrastructure in the temple town.

Similarly, Rs 125 crore has been allocated for Mathura, Rs 100 crore for Naimisharanya, and Rs 50 crore for Chitrakoot. Additionally, Rs 100 crore have been earmarked for constructing way-side amenities along major state and national highways to improve convenience for travellers, according to an official statement.

Alongside tourism, the Yogi Adityanath government is making significant efforts toward charitable projects, with a major focus on temple development and public facilities.

A budget provision of Rs 100 crore has been made for land acquisition, along with Rs 50 crore for construction as part of the Shri Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple Mathura-Vrindavan Corridor, it stated.

Similarly, Rs 100 crore has been allocated for purchasing land, and another Rs 100 crore for large-scale construction at the Maa Vindhyavasini Temple, Maa Ashtabhuja Temple, and Maa Kali Khoh Temple in Mirzapur district to develop the Parikrama Path and enhance public facilities, it added.

To further preserve and promote religious heritage, Rs 30 crore has been allocated for the renovation and reconstruction of protected temples. In comparison, Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned for establishing the Ved Vigyan Kendra in Naimisharanya, Sitapur district, to support Vedic studies and research, according to the statement. PTI KIS CS DRR

Tourism infrastructure funding prioritises religious pilgrimage development and heritage preservation under the state Budget. The Budget designates funds under the Chief Minister's Tourist Places Development Scheme to reinforce religious tourism infrastructure in high-footfall pilgrimage districts, including development of pilgrimage towns and corridors, way-side traveller amenities, land acquisition and construction for temple projects, renovation of protected temples, and establishment of a Ved Vigyan Kendra to support Vedic studies and research.