Ayodhya, Nripendra Mishra, head of the construction committee of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said on Monday that the first phase of the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya would be completed by December 30 this year. Mishra, former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that the temple is being constructed in three phases and after the completion of the first phase, devotees will be able to enter the temple. Speaking to ANI, the head of the construction committee said that apart from the five 'mandaps' on the ground floor, other works would be completed in the first phase.

Nripendra Mishra said, 'The trust has decided that the first phase of the Ram temple should be completed by December 30, 2023. In the first phase, there are five pavilions on the ground floor, the most prominent of which is the sanctum sanctorum, where the idol of the Lord will be installed. Mishra told that there are about 160 pillars in the construction of five pavilions. He said, 'The work of iconography (pictures and symbols) has to be completed in them. Consecration of Lord Rama on the lower plinth of the temple will be started (in the first phase), and electricity facility and other facilities are to be completed. All these works will be completed by December 30, 2023.

The second floor will be ready by December 30, 2024

 Mishra said, “The first and second floors of the temple including the parkota (outer perimeter) will be completed by December 30, 2024. He further informed that “the idol will be installed, devotees will be able to have darshan by the end of this year”. Mishra said, “Efforts are being made to complete these works by December 30, 2023.

Ramlala darshan to devotees till 30 December 2023

When asked by when the construction of the entire temple would be completed, the committee chief said that the temple complex would be ready in December 2025. He said that the first phase would be completed by December 2023, the second by December 2024 and the third by December 2025. It is my effort that by December 30, 2023, devotees can see their God.

Significantly, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had announced that the Ram temple would be opened for devotees by January 1 next year. Talking about the estimate for the construction of the temple, the committee chief said that this expenditure comes between Rs 1400 crore to Rs 1800 crore. He said, "It is estimated that the construction of the Ram temple will cost a minimum of Rs 1400 crore to Rs 1500 crore and a maximum of Rs 1800 crore." A minimum of Rs 300 crore will be spent on the construction of the ground floor.