Officials from the trust overseeing the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya have reported that over 40% of the temple has been completed within two years of the groundbreaking ceremony conducted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Champat Rai, the general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, stated that devotees worldwide could pay their respects to the deity from December 2023. Construction and road improvement activities around the temple are progressing rapidly.
Champat Rai, stationed in Ayodhya, oversees construction work, holds daily meetings, and reviews progress regularly. Responding to inquiries about funding, Rai emphasized the abundance of resources for divine purposes, stating, “There cannot be any dearth of money for the cause of God.”
Trust officials shared details about the project, highlighting the laying of a substantial foundation for the temple’s longevity and stability. Civic work includes the construction of a rectangular, two-storey parikrama road enclosing eight acres of land, and a sandstone entrance in the eastern part. White marble from the Makrana hills in Rajasthan will be used inside the sanctum sanctorum.
The temple “karyashala” (workshop) is active with laborers, both men and women, carving and polishing stones. The project involves extensive use of sandstone, granite, and marble, with detailed quantities specified for various components of the temple.
The Supreme Court verdict in November 2019 paved the way for the construction of the Ram temple, and the groundbreaking ceremony took place on August 5, 2020. The site attracts large crowds, even when the temple is closed, with people feeling blessed to touch the stones intended for the temple construction.
Apart from the main temple, the plan includes constructing temples for various deities within a 70-acre area near the Ram temple. Demolition of shops and houses for road widening, particularly leading to the Hanumangarhi temple, is also underway. Locals are cooperating voluntarily, demolishing structures obstructing the road-widening project.
Seers mentioned initial concerns about naming a road crossing after Lata Mangeshkar, but a consensus has been reached, and the work is expected to commence soon. Overall, locals express their privilege in witnessing the construction work, marking a significant milestone in Ayodhya’s history.
