West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that a religious tourism circuit will be built in the state over two years at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore.

Banerjee made the announcement at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad event in Kolkata on Sunday, according to PTI. She said her government would function in line with the Constitution and would not allow attacks on Indian culture or places of worship.

The proposed circuit is expected to connect religious sites across the state, though detailed plans for the locations and phases have not yet been announced. West Bengal is home to major pilgrimage destinations including Dakshineswar and Kalighat in Kolkata, the Tarapith temple, Belur Math and Mayapur, which draw large numbers of devotees through the year.

Religious tourism has become a significant focus for several state governments in recent years, combining cultural outreach with local economic development through pilgrim footfall. Improved roads, accommodation and facilities around temple towns typically follow such announcements, benefiting local businesses and transport operators.

The announcement comes ahead of the festive season, when Durga Puja draws visitors to the state in large numbers.