Overview
- Planned on 17.28 acres near Eco Park, the complex is designed for roughly two lakh sq ft with a courtyard capacity cited at 1,000 and daily footfall targeted at up to one lakh.
- A trust headed by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant will manage the site, with HIDCO supervising implementation and state funding pegged at about Rs 261.99 crore.
- Design elements outlined by officials include a 54-metre main sanctum, 1,008 pillars, 108 deity idols, 64 lion statues, a Singha Dwar, a Pradakshin path, a Pavitra Kund, and pavilions for Lakshmi and Saraswati.
- Mamata Banerjee rejected ‘appeasement’ accusations and called the initiative secular, while BJP leaders alleged misuse of land meant for industry and questioned tendering and prior expenditures, claims not independently verified in the reports.
- Officials and local coverage indicate construction is slated to finish in about two years, as Banerjee also set a January window to lay the Mahakal temple foundation in Siliguri and announced a January 5 foundation for the Gangasagar bridge.