Ayodhya’s Development March – How Does it Fare Among India’s Premier Cities?
An Assessment of Where Ayodhya Stands in Key Parameters vs Country's Top Urban Centers
As the historic Ram Temple takes shape in Ayodhya, the temple town is undergoing massive infrastructure upgrades to become a world-class smart city. The government has drawn up plans to transform Ayodhya into a global cultural and spiritual hub. But how does it compare with India’s most prominent cities in key development parameters? Here’s a quick check:
**Size and Population:** Delhi is India’s largest city in terms of area spanning 1,484 sq km while Mumbai takes the crown in population at 1.24 crore people. Ayodhya is relatively small with just 60 sq km area andpopulation of around 5 lakh.
**Air Connectivity:** Delhi boasts India’s busiest airport handling over 70 million passengers annually. Ayodhya’s new international airport has capacity for 60 lakh annual passengers after completion.
**Job Market:** Software services hub Bengaluru offers maximum employment opportunities followed by Mumbai and NCR. Ayodhya’s job market is poised to expand with upcoming projects.
**Railways:** Howrah and Sealdah are the country’s largest and busiest railway stations. Ayodhya station is being redeveloped into a world-class transit hub.
**Cleanliness:** Indore is India’s cleanest city as per government survey. Mumbai’s drinking water ranks as the purest. Ayodhya is gearing up for a major cleanliness drive.
**Livability:** Hyderabad, Pune and Bengaluru are ranked as India’s most livable cities based on infrastructure, education, healthcare etc. Ayodhya has a long road ahead on these parameters.
While Ayodhya’s comparison with developed metro cities seems aspirational today, its rapid pace of development promises to bridge many gaps soon. The awakening of Ram Nagri has begun.
