Lucknow, October 8: Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham has significantly boosted Uttar Pradesh’s economy. Since PM Modi inaugurated the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor in December 2021, over 25.28 crore devotees have visited Baba Vishwanath, resulting in an estimated economic boost of Rs 1.25 lakh crore for the state. Vishwabhushan Mishra, the Chief Executive Officer of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, noted that the corridor’s development has not only enhanced Kashi’s reputation but also spurred unexpected economic growth throughout the state. The steady influx of devotees and tourists from various Indian states and countries has generated substantial employment for local traders, shopkeepers, boatmen, priests, street vendors, and hotel operators.
Under the Yogi administration, the security landscape in Uttar Pradesh has improved notably. Infrastructure enhancements, including road widening, ghat beautification, and excellent connectivity from the airport to the Ganga ghats, have drawn both domestic and international visitors. This model of religious tourism has granted Uttar Pradesh a new identity on both national and global stages. Professor Rajnath, an economist from Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi, stated that tourists visiting Kashi Vishwanath Dham average spending over Rs 5,000 each. Even with a conservative estimate of Rs 4,000–5,000 per visitor, approximately Rs 1.25 lakh crore has been injected into the state economy over the past three and a half years.
This financial influx is facilitating development not just in Kashi but throughout the entire Purvanchal region. Seventy percent of devotees visiting Kashi Vishwanath Mahadev Dham originate from South India, while about 15 percent come from various other states and districts. After their visit to Kashi, many devotees proceed to Vindhyavasini Dham, Tirthraj Prayag, Ayodhya, Mathura, Chitrakoot, Naimish, and other locations, creating a ripple effect that further enhances the state’s GDP. Mishra emphasized that PM Modi’s vision and CM Yogi’s mission have generated vast employment opportunities for millions in Kashi and its surroundings. He remarked that Kashi, a city rich in religious and cultural significance, has established a new standard for development and has become a model for the entire nation.
The Yogi administration is leveraging religious tourism as a powerful development strategy for the state. Development initiatives in places like Ayodhya, Mathura, Chitrakoot, Naimisharanya, and Vindhyachal are also progressing rapidly. Following the Kashi Vishwanath Dham model, religious towns across the state are now undergoing development.