India
-Ashish Rana
People hoping to settle in Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura and Prayagraj are set to get new options, as the Uttar Pradesh government plans fresh residential and commercial schemes in these religious cities. Development authorities have already received funds to buy land, and work to identify suitable parcels has begun under the supervision of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Uttar Pradesh is implementing new residential and commercial schemes in Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura, and Prayagraj, acquiring land (e.g., Ayodhya 34.39 ha, Varanasi 126 ha) and planning redevelopment to manage rising religious tourism and provide structured urban facilities under CM Yogi Adityanath.
The state has noted both the rising number of devotees and the desire to own homes in major pilgrimage centres. Along with housing blocks, the plan includes commercial hubs so residents, traders and visitors all get structured facilities. Authorities in Ayodhya, Varanasi, Chitrakoot and Mathura have started land procurement, while a formal proposal from Prayagraj is under examination at the government level.
Ayodhya Kashi Mathura Prayagraj religious cities housing and commercial focus
In recent years, Varanasi and Ayodhya have recorded very heavy inflows of pilgrims, which has pushed demand for apartments and shops. The Housing and Urban Planning Department therefore intends to bring integrated residential and commercial schemes. Under the Chief Minister Urban Expansion Scheme, development authorities and the Housing Development Council are receiving money to purchase land for these projects.
To support business activity in these religious cities, development authorities have been instructed to earmark land for malls, hotels and guest houses. The Housing Department has asked both authorities and the council to send detailed land purchase proposals. Land will be taken from farmers through negotiated agreements, with officials required to consult farmers and then forward proposals to the state government.
Ayodhya Kashi Mathura Prayagraj religious cities redevelopment and land details
The government has also asked agencies to work under a policy that allows demolition of old buildings and construction of new ones at the same sites. Historic and old structures in these religious and tourist cities may be refurbished where needed. They can be modernised by rebuilding or preserved in their current form, depending on structural condition and heritage value.
Officials believe cities with major temples and tourist attractions should look more organised and visually attractive. For this reason, land already taken for schemes in Ayodhya, Varanasi, Chitrakoot and Mathura is viewed as less than the projected requirement. A proposal from Prayagraj is still awaited for finalisation of similar work there.
The current land position for the main religious cities is as follows:
| City | Land acquired (hectares) |
|---|---|
| Ayodhya | 34.39 |
| Varanasi | 126 |
| Chitrakoot | 5.44 |
| Mathura | 111.51 |
Through these housing, commercial and redevelopment plans, the Uttar Pradesh government aims to manage rising religious tourism while offering structured living and business spaces in Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura, Prayagraj and other centres, with decisions guided by available land, farmer agreements and the need to protect important historic buildings.
