Overview
- The state launched construction with tenders already floated, land handed over, land‑filling set to start immediately, and a completion target of roughly two to two‑and‑a‑half years for a complex designed for up to 100,000 visitors daily.
- Plans include a 108‑foot bronze Mahakal idol atop a 108‑foot pedestal, a two‑storied museum and cultural complex, replicas of the 12 Jyotirlingas, two sabha mandaps for 6,000 people, Nandi Grihas, ritual water bodies, and facilities for pilgrims and priests.
- The project spans about 17.41 acres in Matigara, carries an estimated outlay of ₹344.2 crore, and will be overseen by a board/trust after state Cabinet approval and transfer of previously leased land to the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority.
- Opposition BJP leaders criticize the use of public funds and cast the move as election‑driven, while Banerjee emphasizes tourism, employment and cultural development.
- Alongside the foundation event, the government rolled out new bus services in North Bengal, announced plans for an international convention center in Siliguri with state‑provided land, and unveiled initiatives for tea‑garden communities.