VARANASI: The UP’s Directorate of Religious Affairs (DRA) would carry out development work in the areas around important religious places, including the Ram temple in Ayodhya, and equip them with various facilities for worshipers, said Thursday. first director of the DRA Deepak Agarwal. .

The Ram temple in Ayodhya is built by Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

The state government formed the DRA in December 2020, with its headquarters in Varanasi. In June 2021, IAS Senior Officer Deepak Agarwal, Varanasi Division Commissioner, was appointed the first Director of the DRA. He was given the responsibility of setting up the DRA headquarters in Varanasi, selecting the staff and preparing a comprehensive draft of the role, responsibilities and area of ​​leadership, as well as the division of labor.

Agarwal said, “The Directorate of Religious Affairs will ensure development in the areas around important religious places, including the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The embellishment of the localities around places of worship and the installation of equipment will be a priority.

Agarwal said the DRA has already started working on a plan. Development in these locations would be in line with the government’s vision.

In association with the district administration and the relevant development authority, the development works will first be carried out around religious places that attract huge crowds of worshipers, such as Ayodhya, Mathura, Naimisharanya, Chitrakoot and Vindhyachal, between others. Basic facilities such as proper roads, rest homes, lighting, drinking water and a center of tourist facilities would be developed near temples or shrines, Agarwal said.

With its headquarters in Varanasi, the DRA will also focus on developing infrastructure around important religious places in Kashi.

In addition, there was a plan to develop mini-restaurants where visitors and devotees can have food, Agarwal added. He said the DRA is also working on a plan to develop facilities such as online darshan and sugam darshan for worshipers.

The management will have a staff of 19, including two co-directors, an accountant, two office managers, three stenographers, two establishment assistants, two IT assistants, three drivers and three instructors. Some of the officials would come by delegation from other departments, while the rest of the staff would be recruited or outsourced, Agrawal said, adding that a building for the DRA office would be finalized soon.

The state government has already published ??2 crore to the DRA for setting up its office and purchasing vehicles and other equipment.

A significant amount via the DRA was transferred to the Ayodhya administration for infrastructure development in the city, according to an official.

Note, a separate Department of Charitable Affairs was established on December 19, 1985 for work related to the administration of charitable institutions and temples. After 35 years, its management was created in December 2020.