KOLKATA, Dec 29 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today laid the foundation stone of Durga Angan, billed to be the biggest such shrine in the world, to be built on a 17.28 acre of land opposite Eco Park in New Town, the eastern part of the city, at an estimated cost of Rs 262 crore.
Describing the laying of foundation stone of Durga Angan, a historic to perpetuate and preserve UNESCO recognised heritage Durga Puja,
Ms Banerjee said the construction work began today itself by those who built Digha’s Jagannath Temple in Purba Medinipur.
Preliminary preparations to develop the ground have already begun, as the mega project is expected to take close to two years to complete.
A trust under chief secretary Manoj Panth has been formed to oversee the construction and manage the temple complex.
Dura Angan, a temple to come up to dedicate Maa Durga, is also proposed as a centre for cultural and community space as the project is envisioned as a platform to celebrate Bengal’s cultural heritage, particularly its association with Durga Puja, while also serving as a public space for cultural activities.
Durga Angan, a permanent temple complex, aims to be one of the region’s largest cultural and religious landmarks, showcasing traditional arts, crafts and cultural activities alongside devotional spaces for Durga and other deities and will be offered prayers and puja all 365 days in a year, said Ms Banerjee.
The height of the main shrine will be 54 metres and stand on 1,008 pillars, in which a cultural museum will be established to preserve the cultural identity of Bengal.
The development – backed by the West Bengal government and planned with an estimated investment of around Rs 262 crore over 17.28 acres of land – will be managed through a dedicated trust and constructed by the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO). Once completed, it is expected to serve as a cultural hub and tourism attraction much like the state’s Jagannath Dham in Digha, East Midnapore.
“Today’s programme is dedicated to Bengal and the people of Bengal. Thank you all for coming here from different parts of society. Today is a historic day; the tender process for Durga Angan has been completed. We hope that the work will begin very soon… We have formed a trust for Durga Angan. We will ensure that employment opportunities increase after Durga Angan is built,” Ms Banerjee said.
She also announced that the Jagannath temple in Digha recorded one crore visitors in only eight months since it was inaugurated by her in April last.
Ms Banerjee also informed that the foundation stone for Mahakal temple in North Bengal will be laid shortly in January.
(UNI)
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