Uttar Pradesh

• 19 Jan 2024

Helicopter Services to Ayodhya

Why in News?

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to offer helicopter services to Ayodhya from Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Agra, and Mathura.

Key Points

• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate the helicopter service from Lucknow on January 19.
  • The government has also set the fares for helicopter services and plans are underway to extend this to other districts in the state in the near future.
• The state government is also introducing an aerial darshan of Ayodhya city and the Ram Temple for devotees. The tourism department has been assigned responsibility for this initiative.
  • The helicopter rides will take off from the helipad near the Tourism Guest House along the banks of the Saryu river.
  • Devotees will enjoy an aerial tour covering renowned tourist destinations, including Ram Mandir, Hanumangarhi, and Saryu Ghat.
  • Helicopter services from Namo Ghat in Varanasi, from Ramabai in Lucknow from the helipad near the Tourism Guest House in Prayagraj are available.
  • Devotees can opt for helicopter services from the helipad near Govardhan Parikrama in Barsana, Mathura, and the helipad near Agra Expressway in Agra.
  • These longer routes, spanning 456 km and 440 km respectively, take 135 minutes to complete, with a fixed fare of Rs 35,399 per devotee.

Saryu River

• The Saryu is a river that flows through Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
• This river is of ancient significance as it is mentioned in the Vedas and the Ramayana.
• The river is formed at the confluence of rivers Karnali and Mahakali. It is a tributary of River Ganges.
• On Ram Navami, the festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Rama, thousands of people take a dip in the Saryu River at Ayodhya.

UP Government Funds for Expansion of YEIDA, UPSIDA, UPEIDA

Why in News?

Recently, the Uttar Pradesh government approved Rs 2,940 crore in funds for industrial bodies the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), the UP State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) and UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).

Key Points

• The newly formed Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority has earlier been granted Rs 3,000 crore for land acquisition.
• In the financial year 2023-24, Rs 8,000 crore was set aside for industrial expansion in the state. Of the remaining Rs 5,000 crore, Rs 1,000 crore has been approved for UPEIDA, Rs 1,500 crore for YEIDA and Rs 440 crore for UPSIDA.
• A total of Rs 7,042.67 crore has been approved for the expansion of all industrial development authorities.
• The state government is committed to attract investment and make Uttar Pradesh a leading investment destination in the country.

Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA)

• It has been created under the UP Industrial Development Act, 1976 for the systematic development of their respective notified areas abutting Delhi, which if not planned, would have been prone to unauthorized urban growth.

The Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA)

• It is an authority set up in 2007 by the Government of Uttar Pradesh to develop expressway projects in the state.
• The headquarters of UPEIDA is located at Paryatan Bhawan in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow.