Yogi Cabinet to Convene at Prayagraj Kumbh Today, Discuss Religious Corridor Development

Prayagraj Kumbh Today: The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government is set to hold a cabinet meeting today, Wednesday, at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. All 54 ministers in the cabinet have been invited to attend the session, making it a significant gathering. To ensure smooth logistics, liaison officers from the police department have been deployed to facilitate the ministers’ transport to and from the meeting venue without disrupting city traffic.

Five Circle Officer (CO) rank officials have been assigned to supervise these arrangements. While most of the ministers had already arrived in Prayagraj by Tuesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with his cabinet, will take a holy dip at the sacred Triveni Sangam after the meeting.

A major highlight of the meeting is the likely approval of a proposal to develop a new religious region by combining Prayagraj and Varanasi. This proposed corridor will encompass additional districts, including Chandauli, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, and Chitrakoot, spanning an area of over 22,000 square kilometers. The initiative aims to positively impact the lives of more than 23.8 million residents by boosting religious tourism and economic activity.

This ambitious plan seeks to capitalize on Uttar Pradesh’s existing status as a hub for spiritual and cultural tourism. Iconic sites such as Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Vindhyachal Dham, Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Nandgaon, and Govardhan already attract millions of devotees annually. The proposed corridor will integrate these destinations into a unified network, enhancing accessibility and infrastructure.

The success of the 2019 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, where the Ganga Expressway project was approved, showcased the potential of religious tourism in the state. This year, a large number of devotees visiting the Mahakumbh have also traveled to Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir, and Mirzapur’s Vindhyachal Dham. Many tourists also extend their journeys to Prayagraj and Chitrakoot, leading to a significant economic boost in these districts.

By combining Prayagraj, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Vindhyachal, and Chitrakoot into a cohesive religious corridor, the government aims to elevate Uttar Pradesh’s standing as a global spiritual destination, further strengthening the region’s economic and cultural fabric.

As the cabinet convenes at the sacred Mahakumbh today, this proposed religious corridor could mark a transformative step in making Uttar Pradesh the epicenter of religious tourism in India.