The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) has formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Arahas Technology Limited to create the first Vedic City based on the Sustainable Index Platform for Ayodhya.

The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) has formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Arahas Technology Limited to create the first Vedic City based on the Sustainable Index Platform for Ayodhya. This initiative aims to enable the state government to assess its resources and requirements, facilitating upgrades to accommodate the anticipated influx of people after the opening of the Ram Mandir.

According to Vishal Singh, vice-chairman of the Ayodhya Development Authority, Ayodhya will be the first temple city to undergo sustainable development with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence.

Ayodhya – the birthplace of Lord Ram and the site of deep spiritual significance for the Bhartiya Civilisation is experiencing a digital rejuvenation and a technological leap. Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the majestic Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in the city, it has heralded its step into a new era of development. 

Ayodhya is already in the middle of an infrastructure resurgence – the city is being developed as a Spiritual Center, Global Tourism Hub and a sustainable Smart City. An upcoming Greenfield township is also being planned in the city which will include lodging facilities for devotees, space for Ashrams, Maths, Hotels, Bhavans of various states. A tourist facilitation center, a world class museum will also be built. Special attention is being devoted to development of infrastructure around the Saryu River and its ghats. Cruise operations on the Saryu River will also be made a regular feature[1]. The PM has described Ayodhya as a city that is etched in the cultural consciousness of every Indian. Ayodhya should manifest the finest of our traditions and the best of our developmental transformations. At the same time, the moment to catapult Ayodhya into the next stage of progress is now. The city is becoming the point where traditions meet technological advancements, where the spiritual meets digital progress.  

The city, today, has become a huge construction site. Roads are being widened and several infrastructure projects, including multilayer car parks are under construction, temples are being renovated and the ghats on the Saryu River are being improved. This metamorphosis has sparked a surge in economic activities, awakening what was once a serene town. From the boatmen navigating the Saryu River to the vendors selling flowers and prasad at Hanuman Garhi, the landscape is witnessing a rapid shift towards digital payments. “Digital payments have made my life easy as there is no running around for cash change. The money goes directly into my son’s bank account via UPI, which is such a relief for us,” said Annu Manjhi, one of the 100-odd boatmen at the bank of Saryu River. 

The shift towards digital transactions is palpable across Ayodhya. Shri Ramdhan Yadav, a shopkeeper selling puja items along the riverbanks, seamlessly accepts payments via QR codes, making transactions smoother for both vendors and customers. He remembers one day when a customer gave a ₹100 note for the puja items. “Kindly pay online as I don’t have change,” the shopkeeper told him pointing to the QR code. The customer complied and left the shop with a smile on his face.

This shift towards digital payments aligns with the Government’s Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY), aimed at promoting awareness about flagship central schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala Yojana, PM Surkasha Bima, PM SVANidhi, among others. The push to digital transactions also aligns with the Government’s vision of a ‘Digital India’.