The sharp increase in religious tourism in Ayodhya after the construction of Ram temple has taken local business to new heights. Ramnagari is emerging as a new center of economic prosperity due to manifold increase in shopkeeping, employment and income.
These days, Ramnagari Ayodhya has become the center of not only spiritual energy but also economic prosperity. The ever increasing number of devotees flocking here after the construction of Ram temple has changed the lives of small traders of the city. The once slow trade is now taking off and Ayodhya is strengthening its identity as an emerging religious-economic centre.
The income of those selling puja material, prasad and souvenirs in the temple premises and on the surrounding major roads has increased manifold. Areas like Rampath, Kanak Bhawan, Shri Hanumangarhi Marg have now become new symbols of development, employment and business.
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Multifold jump in income of traders
Jitendra Kumar Gupta, director of Shri Gayatri Bhog Prasad Bhandar located on Hanumangarhi Marg, says that earlier his daily business was around Rs 3,000, which has now increased to Rs 10,000. He says, “Due to the efforts of the Yogi government, Ayodhya has taken a divine and grand form. The number of tourists will increase in the coming days, which will further increase business.”
Shyamji Rai, who sells puja material near Kanak Bhawan, is also a witness to this change. He says that earlier he used to work, but now he is earning four times by running a shop. He says that after the construction of Ram temple, migration has stopped and local people are getting employment in their city.
Record increase in sales of shops
According to Prashant Gupta, owner of Gupta Ji Chandanwale in front of Kanak Bhawan, earlier the sales of his shop were Rs 2,000 per day, now it has reached Rs 25,000. He says, “Earlier it was difficult to even meet our expenses, but now the profits are continuously increasing.”
Cleanliness, road widening and beautification have also given new impetus to business. Improvement in the transport system has increased the convenience of devotees in commuting, which has directly benefited the shopkeepers.
Trade based on fair now converted into daily income
Jai Narayan Mishra, operator of Jai Pujan idol and material store, says that earlier his business was dependent only on fairs. We used to be able to earn only a few days in a year, but now we are earning up to Rs 10,000 per day, whereas earlier this figure was around Rs 2,000. Earlier 100 customers used to come every day, now more than 1,200 people are shopping.
Ayodhya: Moving beyond faith, center of economic prosperity
This economic change in Ayodhya has increased the confidence of small traders. Plans to remove encroachments, cleanliness, construction of beautiful routes and promotion of religious tourism have given a new direction to the city. Local people believe that Ram Temple has now become not just a center of faith but also a pillar to strengthen the regional economy. People hope that in the coming years Ayodhya will be established as a world class pilgrimage site and the economy here will take an even stronger form.
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