By IANS
Mathura : A tourist complex, a ropeway, designer idols of Lord Krishna, resorts and picnic spots on the national highway are to be offered to people opting to tour Brijbhoomi in Uttar Pradesh.
Banking upon the intended transition of the target audience from pilgrims to tourists, the Mathura Vrindavan Development Authority (MVDA) is taking steps to change the profile of visitors and the landscape as well.
The authority has cleared a ropeway project to link the Jait Tourist Complex to the Bankey Bihari Mandir in Vrindavan. The project, for which the survey has already begun, will provide ‘air corridor’ to tourists from the complex with a bird sanctuary in Jait on the Delhi-Mathura national highway (NH) to the famous temple in the heart of Vrindavan along the river Yamuna.
The ropeway will ease traffic congestion apart from being a tourist attraction, according to officials of the MVDA. “A significantly large number of pilgrims from northern India heading for Vrindavan take the Delhi-Mathura route. A lot of their time is wasted because of the traffic jams, especially during festivals,” said an official who did not want to be identified.
Moreover, the MVDA a fortnight ago cleared a project of installing idols, capturing various moods and postures of Lord Krishna, along the 25-km stretch from Chatikara crossing in Vrindavan to the Indian Oil refinery in Mathura district.
R.K. Singh, vice chairman of the MVDA, revealed that the plan included development of resorts and picnic spots along the highway.
“Five-acre plots each would be leased out to private parties for 30 years to set up lush green resorts on international lines. A decision has also been taken to illuminate the 30-km stretch of the national highway with sodium lamps,” added Singh.