Mapping Land Use and Land Cover Transformations in Ayodhya City: An Assessment

Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes play a significant role in shaping urban landscapes and environmental sustainability. This study analyzes LULC transformations in Ayodhya City between 2014 and 2024 using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques. Utilizing Landsat 8 satellite imagery and the Semi-Automatic Classification Plugin (SCP) in QGIS, the study classifies land into five major categories: Waterbodies, Forest, Agricultural Land, Bare Land, and Built-Up Areas. The findings indicate a significant increase in built-up areas, rising from 49.12% in 2014 to 56.23% in 2024, primarily driven by Ayodhya’s growing religious and tourism-related importance and government-led infrastructural developments. Concurrently, agricultural land declined from 28.59% to 24.97%, and forest cover reduced from 2.71% to 2.37%, reflecting urban expansion and land conversion. Additionally, bare land decreased from 10.75% to 9.39%, while waterbodies exhibited a slight increase from 1.73% to 1.75%, possibly due to conservation efforts and water management strategies. The study underscores the utility of Remote Sensing and GIS in monitoring urban growth, assessing environmental changes, and aiding sustainable urban planning. The findings emphasize the need for balanced land-use policies to mitigate environmental degradation and ensure sustainable development in Ayodhya City.