The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invited bids for a 4/6 lane highway that will pass through Lucknow, Basti, and Gonda districts.
The Road Transport Highway Ministry has requested special approval from the Centre to construct a 68km greenfield bypass in Ayodhya and nearby areas, with an investment of Rs 3,570 crore.
The project, divided into North Ayodhya and South Ayodhya bypass, has been planned to address the expected increase in passenger and freight vehicle movement in the region after the inauguration of the Ram temple. It is estimated that the daily traffic will rise from the current 89,023 vehicles to 2.17 lakh vehicles by 2033. The construction of the bypass will be undertaken through a public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
Sources have revealed that the road ministry sought special approval as the finance ministry has advised against initiating any new projects under Bharatmala for now. Additionally, since the project exceeds Rs 1,000 crore in cost, the ministry needs approval from an apex committee that evaluates PPP projects. NHAI aims to complete the construction within two-and-a-half years.
To boost the infrastructure in and around the temple town of Ayodhya, the Uttar Pradesh government has planned to invest Rs 85,000 crore in transforming Ayodhya into an economic and tourism hub, following the Master Plan 2031. The redevelopment plan spans a decade, focusing on infrastructure and tourism. The district is already witnessing a surge in tourist footfall from 0.6 crore in 2021-22 to 2.3 crore in 2022-23, prompting an increase in hotel beds to 3,322, with more proposals approved.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the UP government’s public works department are overseeing projects worth Rs 10,000 crore and Rs 7,500 crore, respectively. Ayodhya Dham Railway Station is being revamped with modern amenities at a cost of Rs 430 crore. The Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, inaugurated in December at a cost of Rs 328 crore, is also poised to be a convenient gateway for travelers.