Uttar Pradesh Urban Development and Housing Minister Lalji Tandon and state Bharatiya Janata Party chief Vinay Katiyar on Monday paid a visit to Ayodhya and assured residents that the town was on the party's priority list.

Katiyar, the local Member of Parliament, also declared that the construction of the proposed Ram temple is very much on the party's agenda.

Later, while addressing a public meeting, Tandon announced a Rs 280 million (Rs 28 crore) 'development package' for Ayodhya and kicked off 54 development schemes, including those pertaining to infrastructure and civic amenities.

Some of these schemes had been announced two years ago, but had yet to see any progress on the implementation front.

"All this is being done to restore the glory and grandeur of this town, so that it stands in readiness to welcome Lord Ram," Tandon said while asserting that the party's coalition partner Bahujan Samaj Party would not be allowed to come in the way of BJP's plans.

"Just as we have not expressed any objection to the BSP undertaking development schemes in the name of its own icons, we expect it to allow us to pursue our agenda," he said.

Tandon also met Ram Chandra Paramhans, head of the Ram Janambhoomi Temple Trust, during the course of his visit.

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