LUCKNOW: In consonance with the state government's endeavour of developing the temple town of Ayodhya, the district administration would soon transform the Guptar Ghat situated on banks of Saryu, which is revered among Hindus as the place where Lord Ram took jal samadhi, into a major tourist attraction.The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) will hold a meeting on Thursday with agencies interested in developing the 10-acre wide riverfront, said vice chairman of the authority Vishal Singh.

The authority plans to set up food kiosks, interpretation centre, open air theatre, divyangjan park, therapy garden, terrace garden, children's park, meditation centre, surveillance and public announcement system, decorative lighting and gazebos among others at the ghat.

"Plans are on to make the facilities, to be built at an outlay of Rs 13.50 crore, available to visitors by the end of this year," he said.Over the past two years, more than Rs 40 crore have been infused to change the layout and overall look of Guptar Ghat.

Under it, a 24m wide new link road (600m-long), parking bays (for up to 430 vehicles) and construction of 1.15km long embankment along the Guptar Ghat were done.

"Situated in Cantt area, the existing road is not wide enough to take on increased traffic load and hence a new link road has been developed," said another ADA officer.

The officer said the basic infrastructure and civil works have been commissioned at the site and now only beautification work needs to be done.

Colonnaded frontage will be developed at the riverside food kiosk complex with canopy seating.

Also, multimedia programmes and scenographic exhibitions are going to be used to stimulate heritage connection with the tourists.