Ayodhya Ram Mandir Budget
There’s been a lot of fervour for Ram Mandir being constructed in Ayodhya since the beginning. Well, thousands of mandirs have been built in Bharat. What’s special about this one? What is the total budget of Ram Mandir ? What were the controversies that were settled after long battle? Why’s the world is so excited? Let’s find out.
Fingers crossed! This massive structure will become the world’s 3rd largest Hindu temple adding to Bharat’s dignity and glory upon completion.
Overview of the Ram Mandir Construction Project
The massive structure is built on 1,11,7612 sqft, of which 57,400 have already been constructed.
Many construction companies tried luck to get the contract to build the mandir but it looks like Larsen and Toubro (L&T) got to be the luckiest. It is a company with great structures and stable financials. The CEO offered to look after the mandir’s design and construction personally.
The construction of the mandir began on 5 AUG based on the design that was finalized by the Sompuras with a few modifications. The sompuras were also the ones who gave the initial design of the Ram Mandir in 1988 which was left unattended due to political instability in the country. The design is in the Gujara chaulukya style of Nagara that originates from the Northern part of Bharat.
Chadrakant Sompura, Ram Mandir’s Chief Design Architect
Its under structure was built using roller-compacted concrete for a strong foundation and less heat. Two hundred thousand bricks marked by the text ‘Shri Ram’ were used for its foundation.
Now let’s go through the temple structure which has a length of 360 feet, a width of 235 feet, and a height of 161 feet with 3 floors. Mountains found in Rajasthan called Banshi Mountains, stones from these mountains will be used for construction. There are 160 columns on the ground floor, 132 columns on the first floor, and 74 columns on the second floor. A total of 12 gates are in the mandir and the mandir’s complete construction is to be finished by Dec 2024.
Cost of Ram Mandir Construction
The Bhoomi Poojan ritual was precisely carried out before starting to construct on 5 AUG 2020. The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust formed on the respected Prime Minister’s instructions had to pay charges for the acquired land to the ADA (Ayodhya Development Authority).
A development charge of Rs 1,79,45,477, an Approval fee of Rs 1,50,00, a Construction Approval fee of Rs 84,000, and an Inspection fee of Rs 29,73,307 were paid to ADA.
Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, who is accountable for the construction of the Ram Mandir initially made a budget of approximately Rs 1,800 crores which was later forecasted to Rs 3,200 crores accounting for potential modifications and unanticipated circumstances.
Indeed donations were collected of Rs 10 and higher. Many government officials donated and one of the most chatted people was Mr Yogi Aditya Nath for his donation of Rs 11 Lakhs from his savings account.
Ramotsav Jan 2024
Fortunately, a section of the Mandir has been constructed completely and will be opening on 22 January 2024 after the ‘Pranprathista ritual’. People are excited and proud to be attending this ‘Ramotsav’ where an idol of ‘Ram Lalla’ (an infant form of Ram in garbhgraha) will be throned in the mandir.
The idol was made by a fabulous sculptor who goes by the name of Arun Yogiraj. Two 60 million years old rocks acquired from the Gandaki River found in Nepal were used to build the idol. These rocks are 26 tonnes and 16 tonnes heavy respectively and go by the name Shaligrams. Their importance is far more than imaginable as the stones are a representation of Lord Vishnu.
Arun Yogiraj, Ram Lalla's Sculptor with Mr.Narendra Modi
Ram Mandir’s Political controversies
A lot of controversies were raised during and after the completion of a portion of the mandir from the political parties around the end of Dec 2023. Shiv Sena’s Chief respected Uddhav Thackery passed a comment indirectly targeting BJP on not getting an invite saying ‘Ram lalla is mine too, I don’t need an invitation, I can go anytime I want. I just have one request this event should be a political one. Although the government decided to keep Uddhav Thakrey away his uncle Raj Thackrey, the chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has been invited to the Ramotsav. The Ram temple trust has decided to keep the invitee list small and only invited leading political parties to the ceremony.
Uddhav Thackrey commenting on Ramotsav
Leader of Shiv Sena Sanjay Raut expressed his hurt feelings saying ‘that when the mosque was demolished in 1992, BJP blamed Balasaheb Thackeray and the Shiv Sena leader took the responsibility’. Sanjay Raut also made a notable remark saying ‘BJP is now only left with an announcement that Lord Ram is their candidate for 2024 elections’. Other political parties raised questions about BJP saying that the respected Prime Minister is using the Ram Temple as an opportunity and leverage for the 2024 elections. Religion is now being used to achieve success in the political world.
Sanjay Raut's bold comment about BJP regarding Ram Mandir
After hearing this, the temple’s chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das responded by saying ‘Invitations are only extended to the Ram Bhakts. It is absurd to say that the Prime Minister is using Lord Ram to win elections, he has done commendable work in his occupation and done all in his might for the betterment of Bharat’. Acharya Satyendra Das harshly disapproved of Sanjay Raut’s rude comment about BJP using Lord Ram for success in 2024 elections saying’What nonsense is he talking about? He is insulting Lord Ram.
Acharya Satyendra Das’s response to Sanjay Raut’s bold comment on Ram Mandir
Numerous nerve-stringing disputes were taking place over the inauguration of Ram Mandir. One of the most controversial disputes was between the Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress Sam Petroda and Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi. Mr. Sam Petroda voiced his opinions saying ‘I’m worried about it because too much importance is given to religion. I see that democracy is being undermined… There are signals I am getting that we are in the wrong direction. And when the entire nation is hung up on Ram Temple and Ram Janmabhoomi, diya jalao, it bothers me. It bothers me that everyone thinks that everything good happens because of the Prime Minister. Pitroda added that personal religious beliefs should not overshadow national issues such as education, employment, economic growth, inflation, health, environmental concerns, and pollution. However, he noted that “no one speaks” about these matters.
Sam Petroda’s Opinion on BJP using Ram Mandir for elections
Union Minister responded to Mr Sam Petroda’s opinions brutally saying ‘These are the people for whom Lord Ram was only an imaginary character. All I can say is that people like Sam Pitroda are disconnected from this country and the ethos and values of this country. If they were connected, they would have known what Ramayan taught us, they would have understood the concept of Ram Rajya’.
Meenakshi Lekhi’s Response to Sam Petroda About Ram Mandir
After this controversy, a member of Rajya Sabha, Jairam Ramesh made a clear statement that Mr Sam Petroda’s comments were his personal opinions and did not speak for the entire Congress Party.
Jairam Ramesh clarification about Sam Petroda’s Opinion on Ram Mandir
Civilians also passed taunts on twitter regarding the construction of the Ram Mandir saying the Ram mandir budget is being financed from tax payers money. These controversies will always be there but the fact Mr.Narendra Modi is doing an excellent job cannot be questioned. The individual cost of Ram mandir is still unknown as the construction is ongoing.
Honourable Prime Minister Mr.Narendra Modi
