Ayodhya Ram Mandir Construction: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of Ram Mandir's Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) in Ayodhya, paving the way for the construction of the grand temple's superstructure. The Chief Minister and top seers performed a 'Shila Pujan' as they placed the first carved stone at the temple site amidst chanting of mantras.
Speaking to reporters later, Adityanath said that the 500-year old 'tadpan' (uneasiness) of devotees is going to end, adding that the temple will be a symbol of people's belief. "It will be a 'Rashtra mandir' and its work will move forward with full speed," he said.
"Ram Mandir will be the national temple of India. People have been waiting for this day since a long time. Ram Mandir will be a symbol of India's unity," he said.
Adityanath lays foundation stone of Ram Mandir's Garbhagriha
Notably, the construction work began at the Ram Janmbhoomi site started on August 5, 2020, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the foundation stone. The temple is scheduled to be opened to the public by December 2023.
According to the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (SRJBTK), which was set up in February 2020 by the government for the construction and management of Ram Mandir, the construction of the temple (a three-storey structure) is in full swing.
Nripendra Misra, chairman of Ram Mandir construction committee, said that the construction of the plinth with granite stone which started in February 2022 will be completed by August 2022. About 17,000 stones of size 5ftx2.5ftx3ft will be used in the construction of the plinth.
"We have a 3-stage time frame (for completion of works) - Garbhagriha by 2023, temple construction by 2024 end and main constructions at the temple complex by 2025," he told reporters.
Misra's office said that the proven and tested quality granite stone is being procured from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The Container Corporation of India, Ministry of Railways, has extended full support in the speedy movement of granite to Ayodhya. The superstructure of the temple will have carved Rajasthan Bansi Paharpur stone. The carving work has already begun.
Till now, approximately 75,000 cft (cubic feet) of stone carving have been completed. The total requirement is about 4.45 lakh cft stone for the superstructure alone in the temple.
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