The Banke Bihari Corridor: An Overview of The Heritage Development Project

The Indian government is taking aggressive measures to make religious tourism a national strategy under which major hindu pilgrimage sites will be built. Efforts are rapidly underway in Ayodhya and Kashi and the results are for everyone to see. The Banke Bihari corridor is a new entrant in the plan and was approved by the Supreme Court in May 2025. 

The Banke Bihari temple is situated in the kunj gallian (narrow streets) of Vrindavan. Vrindavan and Mathura are the twin cities which as per scriptures are the cities where Lord Krishna was born and brought up. Barsana, a small town in Mathura is the birth place of Goddess Radha. Vrindavan, Mathura and various temples in the region celebrate Krishna, Radha, their love, Balrama (Krishna’s elder brother), their growing up years, the Gopiyans (female friends of Radha), the cattle they used to rear and the overarching divine play. 

In the year 2022-23 alone, Vrindavan Mathura saw 60 million tourists. The twin cities have shared religious significance and are adjacent to each other, so anyone visiting vrindavan almost definitely visits Mathira as well. This multi crore Banke Bihari corridor project is aimed at alleviating congestion, promoting cleanliness and hygiene, increasing pilgrim safety as well as boosting the economic development of the region by providing modernized facilities and improved connectivity. 

Despite the highlighted benefits, the project has faced some stern opposition. There is fear of displacement of the long term residents and shop owners as well as increased government involvement into the temple management. The Goswami community which manages the temple may lose their hold. There is also a sentiment of losing the unique architectural character of the ‘Kunj Galliyan’ i.e. narrow streets which are famously known as Krishna’s childhood play area. With the new development, there is a fear that Virndavan Mathura will lose its spiritual essence. Also, apart from the reasons cited by the people, there are environmental concerns which will have to be addressed as Vrindavan Mathura lies in the Yamuna flood plains. 

The Banke Bihar corridor project will have to be a carefully balanced complex interplay between modernization, heritage preservation, economic interests of the people as well as the community rights. 

What will the Highlights of the Banke Bihari Corridor  

1. Enhance pilgrimage experience around the Shri. Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan
2. 5 to 5.5 acres of land surrounding the Shri. Banke Bihari Temple to be linked to the Yamuna waterfront via a direct pathway
3. Six lane expressway connecting Mathura to Aligarh 

Financial Estimates 

1. The estimated cost of this development project is between Rs 500 crore to Rs 600 crore.
2. Initial funding of Rs 262 crore was provided by the Uttar Pradesh state government, with an additional Rs 150 crore allocated in the annual budget specifically for land acquisition and development.
3. The Supreme Court has also granted permission to use Rs 500 crore from the temple's fixed deposits for land acquisition, with the directive that the acquired land would be registered in the name of the deity or the newly constituted temple trust.