According to NewsLaundry, The Indian Army has denied permission for the construction of a hotel in Ayodhya’s Ghatampur village, citing the land’s designation as a buffer zone within an artillery firing range. The decision underscores a significant challenge for hospitality and real estate development in the region, which is witnessing a surge in tourism and pilgrimage activity.
This marks the first denial by the Army since the Allahabad High Court ordered the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) in September last year to secure no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the Army for construction projects in 13 identified villages, including Ghatampur. The ruling followed a blanket ban on approving construction maps in these areas.
The ADA had forwarded four applications for construction in the notified buffer zones to the Army, including one for the proposed Hotel Ridansh Royal Retreat. The application, submitted in December 2024, was rejected on January 30, 2025. Satendra Singh, ADA secretary, noted, “This is the first such rejection. The remaining applications are still under review.”
Previously, the ADA faced scrutiny for failing to consult the Army before denotifying land in Majha Jamtara, another village within the buffer zone. This land had been reserved as part of a safety measure under the Manoeuvres Field Firing and Artillery Practice Act of 1938 to prevent accidents during military exercises. While Majha Jamtara has been denotified, the Army retains control over the buffer zone land, restricting its use to agriculture and prohibiting permanent construction.
The Army’s firm stance has dampened hopes for Ayodhya’s burgeoning hospitality sector, which had anticipated significant growth in response to the city’s increasing prominence as a religious and cultural hub. Local hoteliers like Vipin Singh, owner of Hotel Trimurti in Ghatampur, have expressed frustration. Singh’s expansion plans, approved by the ADA in 2023, were halted following the court’s directive to secure NOCs.
He commented, “The ADA master plan categorizes my land as commercial, while Adani’s land is ecologically sensitive. Yet, the government denotified Majha Jamtara, where construction is still restricted. Commercial land should have been prioritized for denotification.” Singh plans to propose the denotification of additional villages to the district magistrate.
Source: Newslaundry
