Ayodhya NSG Hub Moves Forward as Uttar Pradesh Transfers 65 Acres for Permanent Counter-Terror Base

The planned National Security Guard regional hub in Ayodhya has moved a significant step closer to implementation after the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the transfer of around 26 hectares of land to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for the project.

The land, measuring roughly 65 acres, is located at Pure Lalkhan village in Milkipur tehsil of Ayodhya district. It will be transferred free of cost to the Home Ministry for establishing the permanent NSG facility. According to Akashvani News, the land has an estimated market value of about ₹16.90 crore.

From Announcement to Implementation

The September 2026 Cabinet decision is an implementation milestone rather than the original announcement of the project. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had confirmed in October 2025 that a new NSG hub would be established in Ayodhya as part of efforts to strengthen the force’s regional counter-terrorism presence.

At the time, the Home Ministry said the Ayodhya facility would join the existing network of NSG hubs in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Jammu. These hubs maintain personnel who can respond to major terrorist incidents without having to wait for specialised units to deploy from the NSG’s main base near Delhi.

The transfer of land by the Uttar Pradesh government therefore clears an important administrative requirement for developing the permanent facility and establishes a defined site for the project.

Faster Counter-Terror Response in Uttar Pradesh

The principal operational advantage of a regional NSG hub is response time. During a major terrorist attack, hostage situation or other high-risk security emergency, the time required to move specialised personnel and equipment can determine how quickly security forces are able to contain the situation.

The Home Ministry has said that commandos stationed at regional hubs remain available throughout the year to respond to sudden terrorist attacks within their assigned areas. Establishing such a capability in Ayodhya would give the NSG another forward operating location in northern India and strengthen its ability to respond across Uttar Pradesh and potentially adjoining regions.

The facility is also expected to complement the capabilities of state police, intelligence agencies and other Central Armed Police Forces rather than replace them. In major incidents, the NSG’s specialised intervention teams can be deployed for missions requiring advanced counter-terrorism, hostage-rescue and close-quarter intervention capabilities.

Ayodhya’s Expanding Security Requirements

Ayodhya’s security requirements have increased substantially as the city has emerged as one of India’s largest religious tourism destinations following the construction and consecration of the Ram Mandir.

The Uttar Pradesh government cited the increasing movement of devotees, tourists and visiting dignitaries as an important factor behind the requirement for strengthened security arrangements. Akashvani reported that the government considers Ayodhya an increasingly important cultural, religious and strategic centre with security requirements extending beyond routine policing.

A permanently stationed specialist force would allow authorities to maintain rapid-response capability without depending entirely on reinforcements travelling from more distant NSG locations during an emergency.

Part of a Wider NSG Regional Network

The regional-hub concept emerged from the need to reduce deployment times during terrorist attacks. Rather than concentrating the NSG’s operational capability at a single location, permanent hubs place trained commandos and specialised equipment closer to major population centres and strategically important regions.

The Home Ministry said in 2025 that NSG personnel were already stationed round the clock at six regional hubs. The addition of Ayodhya will expand this network further and give the force another permanent operational base in northern India.

The NSG also undertakes advance security planning for critical locations. According to the Home Ministry, the force has carried out reconnaissance of more than 770 important sites across India and maintains operational information intended to support responses to potential terrorist attacks. These assessments have covered religious locations, hospitals, strategic institutions, waterways and other sensitive infrastructure.

A Permanent Security Presence

The 65-acre allocation indicates that the Ayodhya project is intended to be a substantial permanent facility rather than a temporary deployment point. Once developed and operationalised, it is expected to provide infrastructure for stationing personnel, maintaining specialised equipment and supporting rapid mobilisation during emergencies.

The project also reflects a broader shift towards positioning specialist counter-terrorism forces closer to locations where large gatherings, critical infrastructure and high-profile sites create more complex security requirements.

With the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet now approving the land transfer, the Ayodhya NSG hub has moved from an announced security initiative towards physical implementation. Once operational, it will extend the NSG’s regional footprint and provide a dedicated counter-terror response capability for one of northern India’s most heavily visited and strategically sensitive areas.

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