Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved the allocation of 52.102 acres of land to Tata Sons for the development of a state-of-the-art temple museum in Ayodhya, nearly doubling the initial plot to create a global showcase of Indian temple architecture and cultural heritage.
Chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the meeting greenlit the transfer of an additional 27.102 acres of Nazul land in Manjha Jamthara village from the Housing and Urban Planning Department to the Tourism Department, free of cost. This brings the total area to 52.102 acres, leased for 90 years at a nominal Re 1 per year. Tata Sons will fund and execute the Rs 750 crore project through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, operating it via a not-for-profit special purpose vehicle (SPV) with representatives from the central and state governments.
The museum, envisioned as a premier cultural hub, will feature curated galleries, landscaped precincts, and digital spaces highlighting temple designs, ancient construction techniques, sculptures, and Sanatan traditions. It builds on a tripartite MoU signed on September 3, 2024, between the Union Ministry of Culture, Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, and Tata Sons, aiming to enrich the experience for the city’s surging 2-4 lakh daily visitors since the Ram Temple’s Pran Pratishtha.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna described the approval as a milestone for Ayodhya’s transformation into a global spiritual and tourism capital. Local business leaders and saints echoed the enthusiasm, praising the move for boosting employment and economic upliftment in the region.
With construction set to ramp up, the project promises to immortalize Ayodhya’s legacy while drawing pilgrims and scholars worldwide, solidifying its place on the cultural map.
