Uttar Pradesh : On Thursday, the Uttar Pradesh government, in preparation for the upcoming Ram temple consecration ceremony, announced a ban on the sale of liquor within an 84-kilometer radius of Ayodhya. The decision was disclosed by state Excise Minister Nitin Agarwal after a meeting with Champat Rai, the general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra.
Agarwal informed reporters, “The sale of liquor will be completely banned in the 84 Kosi Parikrama area in Ayodhya. All existing shops will be removed and shifted to another place.” He clarified that the ban is specific to the 84 Kosi Parikrama areas and does not apply to the entire Ayodhya metropolitan area.
This decision comes just two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ayodhya on December 30 to inaugurate the newly-built international airport and the Ayodhya Dham railway station.
Simultaneously, Ayodhya has been transformed into a heavily guarded fortress, with increased security measures. Following a recent security breach incident in Parliament, special precautions have been advised for the prime minister’s visit, prompting a high alert. Special commandos from NSG, ATS, and STF have been deployed at the program sites, and enhanced security measures are in place along the Saryu river.
For Modi’s nearly three-hour program, stringent security measures include monitoring every nook and corner of Ayodhya. However, there will be no restrictions on the movement of outsiders during this period. Heavy vehicles entering Ayodhya will be diverted to Purvanchal Expressway, and alternative routes will be designated for heavy vehicles traveling from Lucknow, Gonda, and Kanpur to Ayodhya.
Prashant Kumar, Special DG (Law and Order), highlighted the extensive security arrangements for Modi’s visit, with a deployment of 3 DIGs, 17 SPs, 40 additional SPs, and various other law enforcement personnel in Ayodhya.
