The Yogi Adityanath government is set to transform the three major centres of Hindu faith — Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura — into prominent cities for employment in Uttar Pradesh.

After Ground Breaking Ceremony 4.0, projects worth more than Rs 48,000 crore have already been initiated in the three temple cities, officials here confirmed on Friday.

At least 14,000 people are expected to find employment through the top five projects being started at these three places. The projects are related to setting up tourist centres, wellness centres, and hotels, which will create jobs mainly in tourism and hospitality sectors in the three major pilgrimage sites of Hindus.

It includes 372 projects worth around Rs 13,000 crore for Ayodhya. Abhinandan Lodha House is investing Rs 3,000 crore in real estate and commercial projects in Ayodhya, creating more than 100 job opportunities, whereas PKH Ventures Ltd. is establishing a Tourist Facilitation Center with Rs 600 crore, wherein construction of a hotel with 500 rooms will take place, generating 300 jobs.

Meanwhile, Pakka Limited is setting up a paper manufacturing unit in Ayodhya at the cost of Rs 550 crore, potentially creating over 600 jobs while Innovators Digital Ads Pvt Ltd is constructing a luxury star category hotel in the city at a cost of Rs 510 crore, providing employment for 100 people.

Additionally, Crescendo Interiors is building a private industrial park at the cost of Rs 500 crore, which will create employment for more than 100 people.

Similarly, Varanasi, known as the city of Lord Shiva, has witnessed the initiation of around 277 projects with a total investment of approximately Rs 19,250 crore, of which the top five projects alone are expected to provide employment for more than 1500 people.

The Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) is investing Rs 500 crore for the establishment of Research and Development (R&D) facilities and Fabrication/Manufacturing/Testing facilities for the company’s existing and emerging business areas (Mechanical/Electrical/Electronic Products/Systems). This initiative is expected to create 225 jobs.

Similarly, Roma Builders and Promoters Pvt Ltd is starting a mixed development project based on a 5-star resort, meditation with wellness centre, fruit farms, clubhouses, and housing societies. With an investment of Rs 500 crore, this project is expected to provide employment for 300 people.

Moreover, Gajadhar Technosys LLP is spending Rs 350 crore on housing projects that will provide employment for 300 people in Kashi. Ansh Nirman Pvt Ltd is investing Rs 275 crore in a residential group housing project and commercial mall, creating job opportunities for 200 people.

Furthermore, JS Residency Pvt Ltd will establish a hotel at the cost of Rs 250 crore in Varanasi, which will provide employment opportunities for 500 people.

Like Ayodhya and Varanasi, Mathura too has witnessed implementation of 415 projects worth around Rs 16,600 crore of which the top five are expected to create employment for over 11,000 people in Lord Krishna’s birthplace.

As per this, Air Liquide North India Pvt Ltd is establishing a state-of-the-art Air Separation Unit for industries and hospitals in Mathura with an investment of Rs 3,075 crore. This unit, designed to produce liquid oxygen (including medical oxygen) 305 TPD, liquid nitrogen 45 TPD, and liquid argon 12 TPD, will be modern, fully automated, and environmentally friendly. It is expected to provide employment for 50 people.

Similarly, the Bennison is setting up the hotel at a cost of Rs 1,310 crore, creating several job opportunities. Keshav Publications Pvt Ltd has initiated manufacturing products such as stationery, electrical items and plastic products. With an investment of Rs 1250 crore, it aims to provide employment for 10,000 people.

In addition to this, IFP Petro Products is establishing a lubricating oil refining plant at the cost of Rs 1100 crore, and creating job opportunities for 700 people. Avadi Industries Pvt. Ltd. is setting up an ACSR Conductors manufacturing unit with an investment of Rs 500 crore, which will provide employment for 400 people in Mathura.

Meanwhile, GBC 4.0 has also seen initiation of a total of 902 projects worth Rs 77,312 crore in the other four religious sites of UP, namely Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Naimisharanya (Sitapur) and Bareilly. This is likely to create thousands of jobs. Through the top five projects in these four religious sites, more than 12,500 jobs are expected to be provided.

In Prayagraj, Varun Beverages (Rs 1053 crore), DND India (Rs 600 crore), Omex Ltd (Rs 600 crore), Shourya Naturopathy and Resorts India Pvt Ltd (Rs 500 crore), and JK Cem (Rs 400 crore) are jointly creating around 2500 jobs.

Similarly, in the religious site Chitrakoot, Tusco Ltd (Rs 4700 crore), Sahstrabhuj Food Products Pvt Ltd. (Rs 500 crore), Varun Beverages Ltd (Rs 496 crore), Shree Cement Pvt Ltd. (Rs 202 crore), and Jay Bulb Company Ltd (Rs 300 crore) will generate approximately 1900 employment opportunities.

In the sacred land of sages, Naimisharanya in Sitapur district, Greenlam South Ltd (Rs 1500 crore), Century Plywoods India Ltd (Rs 1500 crore), RAV Global Solutions Pvt Ltd. (Rs 200 crore), Dalmia Bharat Sugar and Industries Ltd (Rs 170 crore), and The Seksaria Biswan Sugar Factory Ltd (Rs 132 crore) will generate more than 6000 jobs.

Meanwhile, in Bareilly, famous as Nath Nagari, IFFCO (Rs 638 crore), Singh Enterprises (Rs 605 crore), Rinku Dairy Prop (Rs 490 crore), Realplywoods LLP (Rs 408 crore), and Dhamapur Bio Organics Ltd (Rs 350 crore) together are expected to provide job opportunities for at least 3,000 people.