Ayodhya Ram Mandir inaugurated by PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, with approximately 7,000 distinguished guests from various fields, including actors, athletes, business leaders, and politicians. The temple, designed and constructed by Larsen & Toubro, is envisioned to endure for a millennium and was completed within a remarkable three-year timeframe. Indian engineering firm Larsen and Toubro undertook the construction of the temple within a sprawling 70-acre complex, with an estimated cost of Rs 15 billion. Spanning a 70-acre expanse, the temple complex boasts dimensions of 161.75 feet in height, 380 feet in length, and 249.5 feet in width. Drawing inspiration from the Nagara style of architecture from the 15th century, the three-story temple includes five mandaps—Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Gudh Mandap, Kirtan Mandap, and Prarthana Mandap—besides the main Shikhar. The primary construction material employed in the temple is the pink Bansi Paharpur stones, procured from mines in the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. A team of 1,500 artisans meticulously crafted intricate carvings on these stones, monitored using a stone tracking application equipped with QR codes for the 26,500 individual stones. With a total of 390 pillars, featuring six Makrana marble pillars on each floor, adorned with over 10,000 idols and thematic carvings, the temple is a testament to exquisite craftsmanship. SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman and Managing Director of L&T, remarked, This engineering marvel stands as a symbol of endurance, designed and constructed to last a thousand years. Commencing work in May 2020, L&T implemented an innovative, multi-layered foundation devoid of metals like iron or steel to resist corrosion over time. Collaborating with IIT Madras, the company utilised a specially created engineering fill, a plain cement concrete raft foundation, and a plinth standing at 21 feet, composed of granite stones transported from South India.