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Time of India
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress MLA Aradhana Misra backs protest against Banke Bihari Corridor
Agra: Congress MLA and Legislature Party Leader in the UP Assembly, Aradhana Misra, on Friday extended support to members of the Goswami community and locals Congress MLA and Legislature Party Leader in the UP Assembly, Aradhana Misra, on Friday extended support to members of the Goswami community and locals protesting the proposed Banke Bihari Corridor in Vrindavan. After visiting the temple, the Rampur Khas MLA said, "I am saddened that the Goswami families, descendants of Swami Haridas, are protesting. The Banke Bihari Temple and Vrindavan are part of the living traditions and faith of the Hindu community." She added, "No one is against Vrindavan's development, but its originality and divinity must not be disturbed. The Congress will raise this issue in the Vidhan Sabha and fully support the protest against the corridor, which has been brought without consulting locals." The protest has been ongoing for over a month, triggered by the formation of the Shri Banke Bihari Ji Mandir Nyas Trust following a Supreme Court ruling on May 15 that approved the ₹500 crore redevelopment project. The 18-member trust — comprising 11 nominated and seven ex-officio members, including two from the Goswami community — will oversee temple rituals, priest appointments, devotee safety, and construction of the corridor. While the state govt says the trust will preserve religious practices, the Shebaits, who have managed the temple since 1862, fear their traditional authority is being undermined. Locals believe that around 275 families, including 200 shopkeepers, may be displaced. Flats in Rukmini Vihar and Sunrakh Bangar have been earmarked for rehabilitation, with compensation and alternate shop space promised. The project gained momentum after a stampede-like incident during Janmashtami celebrations in 2022 killed two devotees. In September 2023, the Allahabad High Court directed the state to implement a corridor plan to improve crowd safety and access. Following local backlash, CM Yogi Adityanath's adviser, Awanish Kumar Awasthi, has begun consultations with priests, residents, and traders.
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Develop Mathura, Kanpur as model cities: Adityanath
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said infrastructure facilities should be developed in Mathura-Vrindavan, preserving the cultural and religious integrity of the area while generating employment opportunities. He was reviewing the 'Vision 2030' plans prepared for the development of Mathura-Vrindavan and Kanpur in a meeting with officers of state government departments. Mathura and Kanpur administration officers joined the meeting through video conference. The chief minister emphasised that Mathura's cultural significance and Kanpur's industrial prominence should be integrated to develop both as model cities with active participation of public representatives, entrepreneurs, youths and citizens. 'The comprehensive development of Mathura and Kanpur would be a step toward realising the 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision,' he said. In the last 50 years, the Mathura-Vrindavan region has suffered due to the unplanned development and deterioration of the heritage, the chief minister observed. Officers informed the CM 195 projects worth ₹30,080 crore have been proposed for the development of Mathura-Vrindavan. The chief minister directed that access roads, drinking water, sanitation, and rest areas at religious sites be developed without compromising their sanctity. He called the planned digital museum, convention centre and the Green Path in Vrindavan a long-term investment. The chief minister instructed the officers that a statue of Swami Haridas should be installed at the under-construction Swami Haridas auditorium. Additionally, he directed that a Krishna Lok Park should be developed within the Jawahar Bagh premises on the public-private partnership (PPP) model, along with the comprehensive development of the facade on the Vrindavan Parikrama Marg. The remaining land in Jawahar Bagh should be developed into a city forest, he said. The chief minister also directed that approach roads and campus development work leading to the temples of Radharani's Ashtasakhis should be completed on priority. Reviewing the eco-restoration of 36 forests in Braj region, the CM called for planting and conservation of the Krishna-era flora. The clean and uninterrupted flow of the Yamuna must become a people's movement, requiring collective resolve, he said. Officials presented 61 projects worth over ₹37,000 crore for development of Kanpur under Vision 2030. The CM was briefed on plans like New Kanpur City, Knowledge City, Medicity, Atal Nagar (land pooling model), EV Park, Aerocity, and Mega MSME Cluster—all aimed at boosting Kanpur's socio-economic development. New Kanpur City will be developed over 153 hectares at a cost of ₹1,169 crore and will include 2,000 residential plots and various commercial zones for a population of 35,000. Among the 29 infrastructure projects proposed are outer ring road, Trans-Ganga Bridge, RRTS, metro expansion, integrated bus terminal, road junction improvements, and deployment of electric buses. Under ITMS, an intelligent signalling system and CCTV network will be installed at 102 major intersections to modernise traffic control. The CM ordered the relocation of the central city bus stand to the outskirts and creation of multiple bus stations if needed, along with new city bus stands, a convention centre and an urban haat. The CM directed that all city parks be developed as theme-based parks in collaboration with NGOs or voluntary organisations. He emphasised the need to bring all district and divisional-level government offices under one roof in Mathura and Kanpur.
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
UP CM calls for integrated govt complexes in Mathura, Kanpur; reviews Vision 2030 plans
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday emphasised the need to establish integrated government office complexes in Mathura and Kanpur to bring all district and divisional-level offices under one roof, according to an official statement. Reviewing the 'Vision 2030' plans for Mathura-Vrindavan and Kanpur metropolitan areas, the chief minister instructed officials to ensure that these integrated complexes are equipped with proper facilities including chambers for advocates, adequate parking, food courts, and other civic amenities. "Such integrated offices will not only streamline administrative work but also eliminate the inconvenience caused to people by having to visit multiple offices," he said. Focusing on long-term infrastructure, heritage preservation, and traffic decongestion in the temple town of Mathura-Vrindavan, Adityanath was informed that 195 projects worth around ₹30,080 crore have been proposed for Mathura. Of these, work has begun on 23 projects, while 172 are under various stages of planning, the statement said. Adityanath emphasised the need to maintain the sanctity of religious sites and directed that facilities for clean drinking water, toilets and resting spaces be developed on pilgrimage routes. He underlined the importance of Vrindavan's Swami Haridas cultural auditorium, a proposed digital museum, a convention centre, and an environmental corridor as key long-term investments. He further instructed that a statue of Swami Haridas be installed at the auditorium and called for the development of a Krishna Lok Park at Jawahar Bagh under a PPP model. Adityanath directed that plantation and conservation of trees mentioned in Krishna-era texts be prioritised. He reiterated the importance of collective efforts to restore the flow and purity of the Yamuna River. Reviewing the development roadmap for Kanpur, the officers informed that the 'Vision 2030' blueprint for Kanpur comprises 61 projects valued at over ₹37,000 crore, the statement read. The plan aims at decongesting the city's core, strengthening public transport, expanding industrial infrastructure, and developing modern townships, healthcare and educational institutions. Among the major proposals are the New Kanpur City, Knowledge City, MedCity, Atal Nagar , EV Park, AeroCity, and a mega MSME cluster. Officials informed the Chief Minister that New Kanpur City, being developed over 153 hectares at a cost of ₹1,169 crore, will feature 2,000 residential plots and multiple commercial zones to accommodate a population of 35,000. On the transport front, Adityanath stressed the need to tackle urban encroachments, which he identified as a major cause of traffic congestion. He called for proper rehabilitation of street vendors and reviewed 29 infrastructure projects including master plan roads, an outer ring road, the Trans-Ganga bridge, an RRTS corridor, metro expansion, an integrated bus terminal, junction improvement works, and electric bus deployment. An Intelligent Traffic Management System with smart signalling and CCTV networks at 102 key intersections is also on the anvil. Adityanath suggested shifting the central bus stand to the outskirts of Kanpur city and developing multiple intra-city bus stands as needed. He further encouraged the development of all urban parks as theme-based parks in partnership with NGOs and civil society groups. Stating that the holistic development of Mathura and Kanpur will contribute significantly to the national goal of "Viksit Bharat 2047." He said the religious importance of Mathura and the industrial strength of Kanpur must be integrated to showcase both as model cities.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UP forms trust to oversee Banke Bihari Temple affairs
Agra: Uttar Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel has signed an ordinance to establish the Shri Banke Bihariji Mandir Nyas Trust, which will oversee temple administration, daily rituals, festival arrangements and security, while ensuring worship in accordance with traditions dating back to Swami Haridas, the 16th-century saint credited with founding the temple in Vrindavan. The decision follows the Supreme Court's approval of the Rs 500 crore Banke Bihari Corridor project, modelled on the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi. While the apex court cleared the corridor project on May 15, it has drawn opposition from residents and members of the temple community, who fear disruption to age-old religious practices. However, the court permitted the state govt to acquire five acres of land around the temple using funds donated by devotees, stipulating that the land is to be purchased in the name of the temple's presiding deity, Shri Banke Bihariji. A review petition has since been filed in the SC by senior temple administrator Devendra Nath Goswami. The newly formed trust will focus on upgrading pilgrim amenities. Plans include prasad distribution points, improved facilities for the elderly and differently-abled, potable water, rest areas, computerised entry, queue management kiosks and supporting infrastructure like 'gaushalas' (cow shelters), 'annakshetras' (place where food is distributed), kitchens, guesthouses, exhibition halls and more. The 18-member trust will comprise seven ex-officio officials and 11 nominated senior members, including two representatives from the temple's Goswami community. Key officials such as the district magistrate, senior superintendent of police of Mathura, the municipal commissioner and the chief executive officer (CEO) of the UP Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad will be among the members. A CEO will also be appointed to oversee daily operations. Reacting to the development, Gyanendra Goswami, a temple priest and administrator, said, "We were not consulted. It seems like a move to gain control over the temple's funds, meant for the deity, and divert them to the corridor. A petition is already pending in the SC. What was the urgency? How will this trust preserve the temple's long-standing traditions?"
