Supreme Court Approves ₹500 Crore for Banke Bihari Temple Corridor Project
The Banke Bihari Temple Corridor Project is an ambitious initiative by the Uttar Pradesh Government, led by Honourable Chief Minister Sri Yogi Adityanath Ji. The primary goal of this project is to ensure the safety of devotees and prevent stampedes.
The plan involves constructing a large corridor, similar to the one in Kashi, capable of accommodating 10,000 devotees at a time. The project is estimated to cost ₹262 crore, funded by the UP Government, and will cover an extensive area of 5 acres.
On May 15, the Supreme Court granted approval to the UP Government to acquire the 5 acres of land surrounding the temple using the temple’s funds. This land will be purchased in the name of Sri Banke Bihari Ji. However, the core structure and tradition of the temple will be preserved.
The proposed corridor will feature two floors. The ground floor, covering 11,300 square meters, will include numerous shops selling pooja items for Banke Bihari Ji, Krishna’s paintings, and a waiting room for devotees.
Shyam Bahadur Singh, the CEO of Braj Tirth Vikas Parishad, has stated that the Banke Bihari Temple Corridor plan will incorporate safety measures for women, children, and senior citizens. The corridor will also feature beautiful gardens and sacred trees such as Parijata, Kadamba, Bargad, and Peepal to provide comfort and reduce stress for devotees. Additionally, there will be provisions for medical assistance and security, along with seating for 3,000 devotees who come for the darshan of Banke Bihari Ji.
He further mentioned that the corridor’s design can accommodate 15,000 people per hour. On average, 1.2 to 1.6 lakh devotees can have the darshan of Banke Bihari Ji daily, which is four times the number of daily visitors to the Taj Mahal.
The project aims to replace narrow lanes with wider pathways and manage the large crowds that visit the temple. However, it has faced opposition from local residents and shopkeepers concerned about displacement and disruption.
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