UP CM Yogi addressed the ‘Divine Uttar Pradesh-The Must Visit Sacred Journey’ conclave organised by the Times of India newspaper group
UP CM Yogi Adityanath ji said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today India is feeling proud of its heritage. Maha Kumbh is going to be organized on the land of Prayagraj from 13 January Paush Purnima to 26 February Mahashivratri.It is the good fortune of the people of Uttar Pradesh that they are getting the opportunity to represent the spiritual heritage of India. Due to the inspiration and efforts of the Prime Minister, Kumbh has also been recognized by UNESCO as ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ in the year 2019.
CM Yogi was expressing his views here today on the occasion of ‘Divine Uttar Pradesh – The Must Visit Sacred Journey’ conclave organized by the Times of India newspaper group.He said that this spiritual journey also has economic aspects. On an average, a traveller spends Rs 5,000 on his visit to Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, hardly 50 lakh devotees used to visit Kashi in a year. In the year 2024, more than 16 crore devotees have come to Kashi.In this way, Kashi alone is contributing 80 thousand crore rupees to the economy of the state and the country every year. In view of organizing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj on December 13, 2024, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development works worth Rs 5,000 crore.These included the works of both the central and state governments. 40 crore devotees are expected to visit Prayagraj. Thus, the economy of India and Uttar Pradesh is expected to increase by about Rs 02 lakh crore.
CM Yogi said that Kashi has been representing the spiritual heritage of India for thousands of years. We have worshipped it as the place of knowledge. Earlier, when someone used to come to Kashi, he used to feel disappointed.108 years ago, in 1916, the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi had gone to Varanasi for the inauguration of Banaras Hindu University. He had gone to have darshan of Lord Vishwanath.He saw the dirt and narrow streets there and later commented on this chaos. The same situation was there in Prayagraj Kumbh. The Prime Minister of Mauritius also came to Prayagraj Kumbh in the year 2013.At that time he saw dirt and disorder on the banks of river Ganga, which disappointed him a lot and he returned without taking a bath in Ganga or drinking water from it.
CM Yogi said that the organization of Maha Kumbh is a wonderful moment. It is our good fortune that we are getting the opportunity to be associated with this event. Although this event is of revered saints and devotees,But being in the government, we also have a moral responsibility. That is why the government is working to increase the facilities for the devotees. Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is grand,It will be known as a divine and digital Maha Kumbh. It will present a model of cleanliness, security and modernity. A new amalgamation of faith and modernity will be seen here.
CM Yogi said that Maha Kumbh has been expanded to an area of 10,000 acres. All arrangements have been made for the devotees here. Preparations have been made by dividing the entire Maha Kumbh area into 25 sectors. He is going to Prayagraj on 09 January, 2025 to finalize these arrangements. The world’s largest temporary city will be built in Prayagraj, where 50 lakh to one crore saints and devotees will be present at all times. Apart from this, crores of devotees will come on different occasions. An estimated 8 to 10 crore devotees will take bath on Mauni Amavasya. Complete preparations and arrangements have been made for this. The entire Maha Kumbh is organised on the holy banks of Maa Ganga. Arrangements for zero liquid discharge are being ensured for a clean Kumbh. For this, STP is working and impure water is being purified through geo tube and bioremediation. 1.5 lakh toilets have been connected to artificial intelligence. Their status in each sector has also been linked through digital tourist map.
CM Yogi said that security arrangements at the Maha Kumbh Mela have been linked with artificial intelligence. Where we have expanded only the Maha Kumbh Mela in 10 thousand acres of land,At the same time, parking facility has been arranged on 5 thousand acres of additional land within 5 km distance from Sangam coast. So that no devotee has to travel long distance. Along with thisMore than 8 thousand buses of Uttar Pradesh Transport Corporation, shuttle buses, e-rickshaws and battery operated cars have also been made available. Sangam Nose has been expanded.
CM Yogi said that the country and the world are eager to come to Prayagraj Maha Kumbh. This time for the first time, devotees will get to see many new attractions in Prayagraj. Akshayvat Corridor, Saraswati Koop Corridor, Patalpuri Corridor, in PrayagrajBade Hanuman Ji Mandir Corridor, Maharishi Bharadwaj Rishi Mandir Corridor and Shringverpur Corridor, the meeting place of Lord Shri Ram and Nishadraj, have been built. A 56 feet high statue of Lord Shri Ram and Nishadraj embracing each other has been installed in Shringverpur. Parmarth Niketan has, in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh government, made replicas of the four holy places of Uttarakhand and the country. People will also be able to see the replicas of the twelve Jyotirlingas made by the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation.
CM Yogi said that Prayagraj is an ancient city even before the Vedic period. Prayagraj has led India and India’s spiritual tradition since a long time. Prayagraj has also participated enthusiastically in the country’s freedom movement.Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, it has become possible to prepare a sustainable development plan for Prayagraj through the Kumbh of the year 2019 and the Mahakumbh of the year 2025. This year, more than 200 roads have been developed in Prayagraj. These have been converted from single lane to double lane and double lane to four-lane. Single underpasses have been converted to double.
CM Yogi said that 14 flyovers have been built in Prayagraj in one year. Railway, airport and water-way facilities have been enhanced in Prayagraj city. 30 pontoon bridges have been constructed in the fair area for the convenience of the devotees. All these works have been done so that the country and the world can feel proud of India’s spiritual heritage. Whoever comes here should take away a new inspiration. The purpose of Kumbh is to infuse a new spiritual energy in every Indian, So that they can think about the bright future of their country and future generations. With this objective, the Uttar Pradesh government and the Government of India together organized the Maha Kumbh in the presence of revered saints, is working to make it convenient for the devotees. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that Maha Kumbh-2025 will be successful in making its mark on the global stage as a new amalgamation of faith and modernity.