Goa govt acquires 3,800sqm land at Rs 23.6cr for Ram Nivas in Ayodhya

Panaji: Goa govt has acquired 3,801sqm plot in the Ayodhya township for Rs 23.6 crore to build Goa Ram Niwas for pilgrims. The Uttar Pradesh Housing & Development Board (UPHDB) granted an in-principle approval for the allotment of the land, based on which Goa govt issued the order on Thursday to pay the full amount.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant said the plot will be used for the construction of a dedicated space for Goan pilgrims keen on visiting the Ram temple. He said the construction of Goa Ram Niwas will commence within two months and it will be taken up under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
He said state govt will construct a five-star hotel on the land, and Goans will be given a concessional rate.
“Those who book in advance will get a 60% discount, whereas those who book at the hotel will get a 40% discount,” Sawant told TOI. He said Goans would be given the first preference and in case rooms remained vacant, others would be able make reservations.
“Goa Ram Niwas will provide a sacred and assured place of stay for devotees visiting Ayodhya. This marks yet another step in strengthening the spiritual bond between Parshuram Bhoomi Goa and Ayodhya, fostering devotion, culture, and unity across Bharat,” Sawant said. The decision to acquire land for Ram Niwas was taken after Sawant and his cabinet ministers travelled to UP for the Mahakumbh.
Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Arunachal Pradesh have also approached UP govt to purchase land in Ayodhya.
The Ayodhya township project is UPHDB’s plan to create a new pilgrimage city across the three villages of Manjha Shahnevazipur, Manhja Barhata and Manjha Tihura. The township occupies about 1,407 acres, with scope for additional expansion in the future.
PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the project, which is estimated to cost around Rs 3,000 crore.
Once completed, Goa Ram Niwas will join similar facilities created by Gujarat and Maharashtra. There will be residential units, commercial spaces, educational institutes, hospitals, among others, as well as parks and recreational facilities within the township. The chief minister thanked his UP counterpart Yogi Adityanath for approving the land allotment.