Sitamarhi: The Bihar government has issued a global tender worth Rs 812 crore for building a grand Maa Janaki Temple complex at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi. The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation announced on Friday that the tender is open to companies from India and abroad. This step is part of the Nitish Kumar government’s plan to turn Punaura Dham into a major pilgrimage centre to attract tourists and devotees from across the country and the world.
According to officials, the foundation stone for the temple will be laid in August this year. The Nitish Cabinet has already approved a detailed plan for the temple’s construction and development of the area around it. The total budget approved for the project is Rs 882.87 crore. In November last year, the state government had sanctioned Rs 120 crore for the initial development works, which included buying land for building tourist facilities and other infrastructure.
More than 50 acres of land will be acquired for this project. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has shared design pictures of the proposed Maa Janaki Temple on his Instagram page, describing it as a matter of pride for Bihar. Officials said that Punaura Dham is being developed on the lines of Ayodhya because it is believed to be the birthplace of Mata Sita. There is a strong connection between the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the Sita temple in Punaura Dham.
The government plans to provide better facilities for tourists visiting the temple once it is built. The project aims to place Sitamarhi on India’s spiritual tourism map and honour its importance in the Ramayana. With the global tender, big construction companies will get a chance to work on this prestigious religious and cultural project.
