West Bengal Government Announces Major Temple Project in Siliguri
The West Bengal government has made a significant financial commitment to religious infrastructure. It has allocated Rs 344.2 crore for the construction of the proposed Mahakal Mahatirtha temple at Matigara in Siliguri. This allocation represents the highest amount ever designated for a temple complex in the state.
Chief Minister to Inaugurate Project
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lay the foundation stone for this ambitious project on January 16. State government sources confirmed the date for the inauguration ceremony. This event marks another major religious development under the current administration.
Recent Temple Projects in Bengal
The state has been actively developing religious complexes in recent years. On April 30 last year, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the Rs 250 crore Jagannath temple complex in Digha. Furthermore, on December 29 last year, she laid the foundation stone for 'Durga Angan'—a Durga temple complex in New Town with an estimated cost of Rs 262 crore.
Scale and Features of Mahakal Mahatirtha
Sources from the state secretariat indicate that the Mahakal Mahatirtha will likely rank among the largest Shiva temples in India. A government official provided details about the project. "It will be a temple complex featuring a large Shiva idol and a planned convention centre within the complex," the official stated. The project will occupy a 17.4-acre plot located on the north-western fringes of Siliguri at Matigara.
Preparations and Execution
Final preparations are currently underway at the site. Workers are using earth movers to level the ground in anticipation of Friday's event. Senior officials from the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBHIDCO) and the district administration are supervising these preparations. HIDCO has already initiated the bidding process for the project.
This temple complex will become the third religious-cultural project executed by HIDCO. The corporation previously handled the Jagannath temple in Digha and is currently working on the upcoming 'Durga Angan' in New Town.
Community Response and Significance
Kishore Gazmer, Secretary of the Mahakal Mandir Puja Committee and Welfare Society, confirmed that the committee received an invitation for Friday's ceremony. A representative from the Darjeeling Mahakal Temple will attend the event.
Gazmer expressed optimism about the project's impact. "This initiative will help strengthen faith and belief among devotees," he said. "While there may be both positive and critical views, the project will serve as a landmark and reflect the spiritual significance of our revered hill temple in the foothills as well. It will also create a strong cultural and spiritual connection between the Hills and the plains."
The Mahakal Mahatirtha project represents a substantial investment in religious and cultural infrastructure for northern Bengal. Its development continues the state government's pattern of supporting major temple constructions across West Bengal.
