The Supreme Court of India on May 15, 2025, approved the Uttar Pradesh government’s ₹500-crore Shri Banke Bihari Corridor project in Vrindavan, ending a legal stalemate over land acquisition and temple fund usage. The ruling permits the state to use the temple’s funds to acquire 5 acres of land around the shrine, registered in the deity’s name, to build critical infrastructure for pilgrim safety .
⚖️ The Court’s Directive: Key Provisions
- Land Acquisition: Temple funds (fixed deposits worth ~₹450 crore) may finance the purchase of 5 acres for amenities like parking, security posts, toilets, and accommodation. The land must be registered under “Shri Thakur Banke Bihari Ji” – the deity’s legal entity .
- Infrastructure Overhaul: The corridor will widen access to the 1,200-sq-ft temple, currently choked by 3–14 ft lanes. Post-development, it will accommodate 50,000 pilgrims simultaneously, preventing stampedes like the 2022 Janmashtami tragedy that killed two devotees .
- Receiver Appointments: Courts must assign administrators with Vaishnav Sampradaya knowledge, not advocates lacking religious context .
⚠️ Why the Banke Bihari Corridor Is Urgent: A History of Crisis
The Banke Bihari Temple hosts 50,000 daily visitors, swelling to 5 lakh during festivals. The 2022 stampede exposed lethal flaws:
- No crowd-holding areas or emergency exits.
- Pilgrims suffocated in Kunj Galiyan (narrow lanes) packed beyond capacity .
The Allahabad High Court had initially barred temple fund usage in 2023, but the SC overturned this, citing “public interest” in averting future disasters .
⛪ The Trust Takes Charge: Governance Shift
On May 26, 2025, UP Governor Anandiben Patel approved the Shri Banke Bihari Ji Mandir Nyas Trust – an 18-member body tasked with:
- Preserving rituals per 16th-century traditions of founder Swami Haridas.
- Overseeing corridor development and temple security .
The Trust comprises 7 ex-officio officials (e.g., Mathura DM, SSP) and 11 nominated members, including two priests from the Goswami community. No non-Hindus are permitted on the board .
⚡ Judicial Controversy: “Hijacking” Claims and Review Petitions
The ruling faced immediate backlash:
- May 28 Hearing: Justice BV Nagarathna criticized UP for “hijacking private litigation” between temple parties. She warned state interference risks “breakdown of the rule of law” .
- Review Petition: Senior administrator Devendra Nath Goswami (descendant of the temple’s founder) challenged the verdict, claiming:
- Zero consultation with hereditary Shebaits (priests).
- “Irreversible damage” to the temple’s spiritual ecosystem .
The SC will rehear the case on July 29, 2025, to assess fund usage under UP’s new ordinance .
🏗️ Project Scope: Beyond Brick and Mortar
Modeled after Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, the plan includes:
- Logistical Upgrades: Computerized queues, medical aid stations, and wheelchair access .
- Spiritual Integration: Connecting Banke Bihari with Radha Raman and Madan Mohan temples via smoother routes .
- Suspension Bridge: Proposed over the Yamuna to enable parking on the expressway side, easing congestion .
🗣️ Stakeholder Resistance: “Tradition vs. Development”
Local priests and residents oppose the project, fearing:
- Fund Misuse: “This is a takeover disguised as development,” argued priest Gyanendra Goswami .
- Cultural Erasure: Demolitions could disrupt Brajwasis’ livelihoods and Vrindavan’s heritage architecture .
In 2023, locals sent letters written in blood to CM Yogi Adityanath, demanding the plan’s withdrawal .
🔮 What’s Next?
- July 27, 2025: The Trust’s first test – managing Teej festival crowds .
- July 29, 2025: SC hearing on Goswami’s review plea .
- Long-Term: The corridor aims to boost religious tourism (India’s ₹1.34 lakh crore sector) while balancing tradition and safety .
“Development must honor sanctity. We’re not against progress, but against bulldozing our 500-year legacy.”
– Devendra Nath Goswami, Temple Administrator .
Q1: What did the Supreme Court approve?
A: The SC cleared Uttar Pradesh’s ₹500-crore plan to acquire 5 acres around Vrindavan’s Banke Bihari Temple for safety upgrades, allowing temple funds to finance land purchase.
Q2: Why is this corridor needed?
A: To prevent deadly stampedes like the 2022 Janmashtami tragedy. Current lanes (3–14 ft wide) can’t handle 50,000+ daily pilgrims (5+ lakh during festivals).
Q3: Can temple money be used for land?
A: Yes. The SC permitted using the temple’s ₹450 crore fixed deposits to buy land registered under “Shri Thakur Banke Bihari Ji” – overturning a 2023 High Court ban.
Q4: What facilities will the corridor include?
A:Crowd-holding zones & emergency exits
Parking, medical aid, toilets
Security posts & pilgrim accommodation
Proposed Yamuna bridge for expressway access
Q5: Who governs the project now?
A: The 18-member Shri Banke Bihari Ji Mandir Nyas Trust (approved May 26, 2025), led by UP officials + Hindu religious experts.