Special budget likely for Banke Bihari temple corridor

PM Modi is expected to make an announcement of multi-crore project during his visit to Mathura-Vrindavan on Thursday

- NAMITA BAJPAI

AFTER the Allahabad High Court nod to the development of Vrindavan (Mathura) Banke Bihari Temple Corridor, a plan proposed by the Uttar Pradesh government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to make an announcement of the corridor and also the special budget for the project during his visit to Mathura-Vrindavan on Thursday.

Following the expected announcement by the PM, while the administration will proceed with steps towards bringing the proposed corridor on the ground, the Sevayat Goswamis, who manage the temple, which depicts the child form of Lord Krishna, are not keen on speaking about the court order and maintain that their affairs had been administered by Munsif Court in Mathura since long. So they always respect a court order.

While hearing a bunch of PILS regarding the crowd management and safety and security of the devotees visiting the famous temple in Vrindavan, the High Court had directed the state government to rid the entire area around the temple of the encroachment to facilitate the movement of devotees.

However, the court restrained the state from using ₹262.50 crore for the bank account of the deity for the construction of the temple corridor. It asked the state authorities to utilise its own money for the "secular activity of facilitating public interest."

The court had also cautioned the UP government against any interference in the rights of Sevayats and in puja-archana and 'Shringar' carried out by them.