MP plans an Ayodhya in Chitrakoot, mulls ADB loan to fund project

Bhopal: Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh will be developed in the line of Ayodhya.

The MP government plans to approach Asian Development Bank (ADB) to borrow Rs 400 crore to fund a project to develop the places in Chitrakoot visited by Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman during the trinity’s exile period as important religious sites.

This was indicated by chief minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday.

Mr Yadav briefed his council of ministers on the plan to develop Chitrakoot in the line of Ayodhya before the cabinet meeting, chaired by him, started here on Wednesday.

The chief minister chaired a meeting of Shri Ramchandra Gaman Path Trust in district headquarters of Satna in the state late on Tuesday to discuss the government’s plan in this regard.

The holy town of Chitrakoot falls under Satna district.

The places in Chitrakoot and other areas in the state visited by Lord Ram during his exile period will be developed under the Ram Gaman Path project in phases.

An expert committee will be constituted to draw a detailed action plan for the project, sources said.

The proposed project envisages infrastructural development in Chitrakoot and promotion of Chitrakoot as an important religious site linked to Lord Ram.

A 1450 km-long route will be developed linking all the sites in Chitrakoot and other areas in the state visited by the trinity during their exile period under the Ram Gaman Path development plan, sources said.

The idea of development of Ram Gaman Path in MP was first mooted during the previous Uma Bharti government in 2004.

However, a formal announcement in this regard was made during the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in 2007.

The project has however been put in cold storage since then.

The Mohan Yadav government has decided to revive the project.