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Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Banke Bihari Corridor plan: UP CM's advisor holds discussions in Vrindavan, seeks consensus
Seeking a consensus on the proposed Banke Bihari Corridor project, Awanish Kumar Awasthi, advisor to the chief minister, held meetings with local residents, traders and Goswamis (priests) in Vrindavan on Friday. The Goswamis (priests) from the Banke Bihari Temple have been vocal in opposing the Banke Bihari Corridor plan. 'It was a constructive discussion that we had with all, including locals and traders, and separately with Goswamis. They openly placed their viewpoint. We communicated that the state government was here to ensure development of the area and ensure better facilities for devotees coming to have darshan at the Banke Bihari Temple,' Awasthi said after the discussions. While a section of traders and residents voiced concerns about the plan, they were assured a patient hearing by Awasthi after the first round of discussions though, at one stage, some of them appeared to be on the brink of a boycott but returned for the talks. Agra divisional commissioner Shailendra Kumar Singh, deputy inspector general (Agra range) Shailesh Pandey, Mathura district magistrate CP Singh, Mathura senior superintendent of police Shlok Kumar and others were present in the meeting with the residents and traders held at the Tourist Facilitation Centre (TFC). 'Large-scale development has taken place statewide in places of religious tourism. The state government wants Vrindavan to be a developed place with an opportunity for devotees to have a smooth 'darshan' at Banke Bihari temple. Locals, residents and traders have openly given suggestions. We are open to suggestions as we aim at a consensus in bringing up the Banke Bihari Corridor,' Awasthi said. He held a separate meeting with Goswamis at a location near the temple and was scheduled to have another meeting late on Friday evening. Opposing the corridor plan, Rajat Goswami of the Goswami community at the temple told HT they were against the ordinance bought to create a trust to run the temple and oversee the proposed Banke Bihari Corridor. Govind Khandelwal, a trader leader who attended the meeting with Awasthi, said 'We are against the map on which the Banke Bihari Corridor is based and have better alternatives. It is not a matter of compensation or money but what we want is that the heritage value of Vrindavan should remain unchanged.' Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai visited the Bankey Bihari temple on Thursday and assured the Goswami community of full support against the proposed project. 'The state government has a covetous eye on Banke Bihari temple and plans to have control over it and thus is bringing up such plans like the corridor,' said Ajay Rai who met women from Goswami family on Thursday evening. Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak also offered prayers at the Banke Bihari Temple on Thursday and assured that a consensus will be reached. On May 15, the Supreme Court paved the way for a state government scheme to develop the Banke Bihari Corridor for the benefit of devotees. The apex court also allowed the state government to use temple funds to purchase five-acre land for the corridor. The state government on May 27 constituted a Trust to manage the Banke Bihari temple and oversee the work of the proposed corridor.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Hema Malini urges a rethink by those opposing Banke Bihari temple corridor, says project good for all
Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Mathura Hema Malini has welcomed the Supreme Court decision allowing construction of the Banke Bihari Corridor at Vrindavan. The actor-politician has urged all those opposing the corridor, specially the Goswamis (priests at the temple), to rethink because the project is good for all. She urged áll the stakeholders to 'let Banke Bihari Corridor happen', saying it is a rare opportunity to ensure proper arrangements for devotees. 'I, despite having all the security, felt like avoiding 'darshan' at Banke Bihari temple. Such is the sorry state of affairs at present. For a common devotee, it is no less than a 'battleground' in the temple premises where they are pushed, pulled and often crushed due to huge crowd pressure. The solution to this is the Banke Bihari Corridor. Fortunately, the Supreme Court has given the green signal to it. We all should let it come up,' she said. 'We will talk to Goswamis, the priests engaged in prayers at Banke Bihari temple, and will understand the issues they have. We also want to assure the local residents around the temple that all will be compensated adequately if their land is acquired. Even those on rent or having shops or other establishments will be compensated,' Hema Malini said. She recollected an incident in which her hair dresser from Maharashtra returned weeping after her hair had been pulled due to crowd pressure in the temple premises. 'For a visit to a temple, we need peace and the smooth movement of devotees, which will be ensured only when the corridor comes up. We want to know what problems the Goswamis have with the corridor, which will allow the smooth movement of devotees, proper parking facilities, footwear spaces,' the MP said. 'Devotees understand that things will improve with the corridor becoming a reality. But there are those misled by opportunists who have no concern for the common man and are driven by politics of opposition,' she said. Hema Malini noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done 'wonderful work' at religious spots in his 11-year tenure and chief minister Yogi Adityanath will not allow injustice to anyone in the name of the corridor. On May 15, the Supreme Court paved the way for a state government scheme to develop the Banke Bihari Corridor for the benefit of devotees. The apex court also allowed the state government to use temple funds to purchase five-acre land for the corridor. The state government on May 27 constituted a Trust to manage the Banke Bihari temple and oversee the work of the proposed corridor. During a hearing in the Supreme Court on May 28, senior advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for one of the Goswamis at the Banke Bihari temple, submitting that a fund of ₹300 crore has been given to the Uttar Pradesh government without making the Goswamis at the Banke Bihari temple a party. The Supreme Court has fixed July 29 for the next hearing.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Vrindavan corridor necessary to handle huge crowd, will benefit all: Hema Malini
Mathura: Veteran actress and three-time Mathura MP Hema Malini on Tuesday appealed to the Vrindavan's Goswamis to let the corridor development work kick off, as in the current state, the temple does not have enough space to accommodate the number of devotees reaching there. In an exclusive interaction with IANS, Hema Malini said the Rs 500 crore Banke Bihari temple corridor in Vrindavan should come up, as "it's now or never". Allaying fears of the shopkeepers, property owners, and people on rent who fear huge losses during the corridor redevelopment, Hema Malini said that the Yogi Adityanath government has already promised that those losing their property and even those who do not have papers will get compensation, and those losing their shops will get a new shop in the developed corridor. She pointed out that if it is not built, the situation will worsen beyond imagination. On the Goswamis opposing the project, she said: "They should understand. They should have made some proper arrangements to manage the crowd. Around 5,000 people are being let into a place that can accommodate 50 people. There are so many tragedies happening. It's not a way to visit a temple. It seems like approaching a battlefield." Due to the huge crowd, many people return as they are unable to have darshan of the deity, she further said. Hema Malini gave assurance that if any problem arises, she will look into it. Appealing to the goswamis to let that work for the corridor begin, she said: "Abhi nahi, toh kabhi nahi (If it is not be done now, it will never happen). Besides, she also pointed out that the Vrindavan bypass project, estimated to cost crores of rupees, has been passed, and soon its work will begin. Using that bypass, devotees would not have to enter the main city, thus solving the concerns of locals, who face difficulties and cannot come out of their homes due to a sea of devotees. The Goswamis are opposing the Vrindavan corridor and threatening to relocate the Banke Bihari deity to another location. They allege that the government wants to turn the place of faith into a picnic spot. On May 15, the Supreme Court allowed the Uttar Pradesh government to go ahead with the Vrindavan corridor project.
