Noida: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday reviewed a revised Mathura Heritage City project draft drawn up by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) during his visit to the district, where he also chaired a meeting of Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad.YEIDA said the agency will soon start land acquisition for the project and officials presented the plan before the chief minister. Yamuna Authority additional CEO Shailendra Bhatia said that the Rs 7,200-crore project, planned under the Raya Urban Centre near Vrindavan, will be spread across 753 acres and is envisioned as a major cultural, spiritual, and tourism hub inspired by Lord Krishna’s Braj legacy.“As part of the project, we decided to develop a pilgrims’ gateway complex. This will be spread over 17.5 hectares and will have facilities like a food court, waiting area, handicraft shops, information centre, etc. We asked the Mathura district magistrate to identify the landowners and share land records details. Once they share the details, we will start the land acquisition process,” he said.In addition, the Authority will also develop a 1.4km-long and 30m-wide road connecting the Yamuna Expressway to the Banke Bihari Temple. This project will need nearly four hectares of land and will facilitate people visiting the temple. The local district administration will also share the details of the land and landowners to start the land acquisition.The review followed concerns after parts of the proposed site were submerged during last year’s monsoon. YEIDA had asked its consultant to conduct a fresh flood-risk and terrain assessment before the final alignment of the project was approved.YEIDA earlier planned to develop the project entirely on a public-private partnership (PPP) model. However, recent assessments found that the Authority needed to bear most of the land acquisition costs, making private investment less viable. As a result, the board proposed a hybrid development model.Under the revised plan, YEIDA will also develop residential and commercial clusters, while key cultural and thematic zones—including the Krishna Heritage Park, temple complex, wellness and yoga centres, riverfront, and green zones—will be taken up through PPP partnerships.The Authority will also develop a 30km Yamuna riverfront, an art and craft bazaar, cultural plazas, hotels, convention facilities, and a 100 ft statue of Lord Krishna at the core of the temple complex.The project will serve as a gateway to Braj tourism, offering cultural, spiritual, and eco-friendly experiences while boosting regional employment and infrastructure development.
