Ram temple construction in Ayodhya to commence from today

Ayodhya:Construction work for a grand Ram temple here is expected to commence from Saturday.The cleaning of the area by removing the tents and other things erected during the Bhoomi pujan on August 5 had already commenced on Thursday which will be completed in a couple of days.

According to Shree Ramjanmabhoomi Tirath Khetra Trust officials,  by today the construction works will start after removal of all weather tent erected for the Wednesday  function. "The removal of the structures started from thrusday and it was completed on Friday  " the official said. 

L&T construction company has been given contract for the civil construction of the temple and at first they will use big machines to dig the foundation.

Owing to monsoon,  the construction company will be cautious in their digging  work and is likely  to complete the foundation and ground floor work within next 18 months.As per the Trust's claim, the Ram temple will be completed within  3-and-a-half years and inaugurated before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The total cost of the temple and its surrounding development  would be around Rs 1,000 crore. The entire cost would be met through donations given by organisations and individuals in cash or kind.

Officials said the foundation work and ground floor will take around one-and-a-half-years. The next two floors would another 14 months time  along with construction of five domes with a total height of 161 feet.

However, another 6 months would be required for the finishing touches.Meanwhile, the Trust is expected to submit the plan of the temple for approval from the Ayodhya  Development  authority  for which a fee of Rs 2 crore would be required.(UNI)