Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, will visit Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday to lay the foundation stone for the Vindhyachal Corridor, which Yogi Adityanath, the state’s chief minister, has dubbed a “dream project.” The project, estimated to cost over 300 crore, will improve amenities for devotees at the Vindhyachal temple in the district, as well as widening surrounding roads to 50 feet and allowing for a better view of the shrine for ‘darshan.’
The Vindhyachal temple in Mirzapur, which attracts thousands of devotees to pay homage to Goddess Vindhvasini, is a popular tourist attraction in the state. When completed, the Vindhya Corridor is expected to provide a clear view of the Ganga flowing north of the temple. According to reports, the river will be visible from the temple’s stairwell, providing an added attraction for devotees seeking Ma Vindhvasini Devi’s ‘darshan.’
The Vindhyachal Corridor project is significant for Uttar Pradesh pilgrimage because many devotees have complained that the current situation near the temple is filthy and unfit for a holy site.
Many of the narrow lanes and roads leading to the temple are inaccessible to many pilgrims, and there are no proper transportation measures in place to get to the temple. As a result, chief minister Yogi Adityanath plans to build the Vindhyachal Corridor to increase foot traffic to the temple and the surrounding area.
The home minister will first pay obeisance to Goddess Vindhvasini at the Vindhyachal temple in the district, according to Mirzapur MLA Ratnakar Mishra, and then participate in the ‘havan’ programme.
