Ayodhya: The temple city of Ayodhya is set to receive a major infrastructure boost ahead of this year’s Deepotsav, with the ambitious Dashrath Path project nearing completion. Built at an estimated cost of ₹418.98 crore, the 15.39-km four-lane road will connect Saket Petrol Pump with the Maharaj Dashrath Samadhi at Bilwhari Ghat, improving connectivity for pilgrims and local residents.
Around 92 per cent of the project has been completed, with authorities working towards opening the road before Deepotsav. The 14-metre-wide corridor is being equipped with modern street lighting, footpaths and a central divider to ensure smoother traffic movement and improve pedestrian safety.
The new road is expected to ease congestion in the city, shorten travel time and strengthen connectivity between several internal and surrounding areas of Ayodhya. It is also expected to help the city manage the growing flow of pilgrims and tourists during major religious events.
Dashrath Path to Boost Traffic Management
Shashank Pandey, Assistant Engineer with the Provincial Division of the Public Works Department, said construction work on the project is progressing rapidly. He said the road would play an important role in improving Ayodhya’s traffic management.
With nearly 92 per cent of the work complete, efforts are being accelerated to meet the deadline before Deepotsav. The four-lane corridor, with lighting, footpaths and a divider, is expected to provide an alternative route for traffic and reduce pressure on existing roads.
Beyond its transportation role, the project is also being designed to reflect Ayodhya’s religious and cultural heritage.
30 Mudra Pillars to Add Cultural Appeal
The Ayodhya Development Authority plans to install 30 mudra pillars along the approximately 15-km Dashrath Path at a cost of ₹82.68 lakh. The pillars will be placed roughly every 500 metres and will be installed after completion of the main corridor.
Fifteen pillars will depict yoga mudras, while the remaining 15 will showcase traditional weapon mudras. Each pillar will be around six feet high.
The yoga mudras are intended to highlight India’s spiritual traditions and cultural heritage, while the weapon mudras will symbolise courage, valour and the martial traditions associated with Indian civilisation. Mudras associated with elements such as air and fire, as well as those linked with health and longevity, will add visual and thematic diversity.
With decorative lighting planned along the corridor, the pillars are expected to become prominent visual features after sunset. The initiative is aimed at combining improved urban infrastructure with Ayodhya’s religious identity and enhancing the experience of pilgrims and tourists.
The Dashrath Path is therefore being positioned not merely as a new road, but as a modern cultural corridor connecting visitors with the legacy associated with Maharaj Dashrath while strengthening the infrastructure of the rapidly developing pilgrimage city.
