LUCKNOW: The Yogi Adityanath government will invest Rs 4,560 crore to revamp and strengthen roads connecting sites of historical, mythological, and spiritual significance in Uttar Pradesh, an official statement said on Tuesday.Besides ensuring safer and more convenient travel for pilgrims, the initiative also aims to establish Uttar Pradesh as the leading destination on the global religious tourism map.Devotees and travellers will benefit from this plan, especially, in terms of better transportation facilities. This will reduce their travel time and make their journeys easier, safer, and more organised, the statement said. The project focuses on improving connectivity and enhancing the appearance of sacred routes linking major pilgrimage destinations such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura, Chitrakoot, Prayagraj, Naimisharanya, and Mirzapur, the statement said, adding that priority has been given to widening, strengthening, and constructing these routes during the financial year 2025-26. According to the Public Works Department’s (PWD) plan, 272 projects will be completed under this initiative, the statement mentioned.

The strengthening works for roads connecting important religious sites across the state are approved by the state government, the PWD plan states. Priority is being given to developing, reconstructing, and strengthening those roads that have the highest number of visitors. For the 272 planned projects, the main focus is on the roads that see an average annual traffic of around 5 lakh devotees. The projects include widening roads, repairing surfaces, building sidewalks, strengthening carriageways, lane marking, beautification, expansion, improving traffic management, and promoting road safety standards. Special attention is being given to routes where land acquisition can be minimised to ensure smoother progress.