Jaipur: Construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya may start as early as next month, as the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust is set to send a request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to conduct the ‘bhoomi poojan’ on 3 or 5 August.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the trust that was set up to oversee the construction of the temple. However, its general secretary Champat Rai told reporters that funds will be collected once the situation becomes normal after the Covid-19 crisis and the India-China stand-off in Ladakh.
“Once the process of collecting funds is over and all drawings for the construction of the temple are complete, and as soon as the situation becomes normal, we are hopeful that the construction will be completed within 3 to 3.5 years,” Rai said.
Another trust member, Kameshwar Chaupal, said the height of the proposed Ram Mandir will also be increased to 161 feet from 148 feet.
“The entire country wants that the PM should do the bhoomi poojan, and we have given two dates to the PMO; they can decide as per their convenience. The PMO’s functioning is not normal — the country is battling situations at the border and with the coronavirus — so they will give time as per availability, and we will agree to it,” Chaupal said.
On 2 July, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, president of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, had written to PM Modi, requesting him to visit Ayodhya and carry out the ‘bhoomi poojan’. He had stated the trust would ensure there is no overcrowding and that social distancing is maintained.
The other members of the trust include Nripendra Mishra, former principal secretary to PM Modi, Additional Home Secretary Gyanesh Kumar and Uttar Pradesh’s Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Awasthi.
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Saturday’s meeting
At Saturday’s meeting of the trust, the date of the foundation stone-laying was discussed, as were the height and construction arrangements of the Ram Mandir.
The meeting started at Ayodhya’s Circuit House at around 3 pm and lasted for about two-and-a-half hours.
The trustees have agreed to change the layout of the temple — now it will have five gumbads (domes) instead of the previously planned three. The height, as Chaupal said, has also been increased from the earlier proposed design.
Funds for the temple will also be arranged through kar seva, as done earlier, the trustees said.
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