PM Modi and Yogi Adityanath held a meeting to discuss Ayodhya development projects.
Ayodhya should manifest the "finest of our traditions and the best of our developmental transformations" Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today during his virtual meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to review development projects in the temple town.
This is their second meeting this month; earlier this month, the Chief Minister was in the national capital for meetings with PM Modi and top BJP leaders, including Amit Shah and party chief JP Nadda amid reports of dissent in the party in his state.
During today's meeting, Yodi Adityanath presented plans for Ayodhya's development, including better roads, infrastructure, a railway station and an airport. PM Modi described Ayodhya as a city that is "etched in the cultural consciousness of every Indian", government sources said after the meeting.
"Ayodhya is both spiritual and sublime. The human ethos of this city must be matched by futuristic infrastructure, which is beneficial for everyone including tourists and pilgrims," the Prime Minister reportedly said, adding that that developmental works in the town will continue in the foreseeable future.
He termed Ayodhya as a "city by and for every Indian".
The meeting between the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister took place days after allegations emerged against the Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust of an illicit land deal.
Ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya last year, the Uttar Pradesh government had announced several projects to promote the temple town as a big religious tourism destination. The plan for an airport for announced by Yogi Adityanath in 2018. As of now, Ayodhya has an airstrip for the use of VIPs. But the government has announced that it will be converted into an airport.
The mega upgrade plan also include upgradation of the town's water supply, the bus station and the police barracks.
(With inputs from ANI)