Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday described Ayodhya as the country’s number one solar city, marking what he called a striking transformation of the holy town.

“Compare the Ayodhya of today with the Ayodhya of that time. There were no roads, no electricity, no sanitation, and no basic amenities; the waters at Ram Ki Paidi used to stagnate and rot right there,” the Chief Minister said. He recalled that when his government took office in 2017, the town’s water system was among its first concerns.

Adityanath said the Saryu river was key to the fix. “The water of Mother Saryu flows in on one side and out on the other, ensuring a continuous, unhindered, and pristine flow,” he said. Filth and narrow, broken lanes have given way to four-lane roads, and temples and statues of revered saints now stand across the city, he added.

“And today, Ayodhya, which used to live in darkness, has become the country’s number one solar city,” he said, pointing to solar installations on public buildings, ghats and rooftops.

Why it matters: The claim links Ayodhya’s religious revival with a renewable-energy milestone as the city prepares for its next Deepotsav.