DPRs underway for ₹35,000-cr highway projects

The Union transport minister informed that the detailed project reports are being prepared for 4,080 km projects of ₹35,000 crore under the Bharatmala Pariyojna, including 121 km Ram Van Gaman Marg extension and famous Sharda Shaktipeet (Maihar temple) in UP. The government has planned to construct 210 km Ram Van Gaman Marg in Uttar Pradesh where the project seeks to retrace the route believed to have been taken by Lord Ram on his way to exile with Sita and Lakshman. The proposed 210 km long Ram Van Gaman Marg connects Ayodhya to Chitrakoot via Faizabad, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Jethwara, Shringverpur, Manjhanpur and Rajapur. The proposed alignment passes through NH-28, NH-96 and NH-731A besides a greenfield alignment with a bridge at river Ganga at Shrinverpur. The 38 km length of the route is at Chitrakoot, UP. Last year, Madhya Pradesh CM had also sought help and guidance from the Union transport ministry for the development of Ram Van Gaman Path in his state. Chhattisgarh CM had said that a dedicated fund will be constituted for people to contribute towards the development of his government's ambitious Ram Van Gaman tourism circuit project in the state. As per the mythology, Ram Van Gaman Path is the route taken by Ram on his way to the 14-year exile. In the first phase of the project, eight of the selected places in UP falling on the forest route taken by Lord Ram will be developed as tourist destinations at a cost of ₹137.45 crore.