Valmiki Temple, Panorama projects may miss deadline

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 3

Even as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has instructed officials to complete the construction of Bhagwan Valmiki Temple and Panorama Complex in the Ram Tirath area by September 15, mega projects are unlikely to be finished by their deadlines.

The development project of the historic Ram Tirath is progressing at a snail’s pace.

The SAD-BJP coalition government, keeping in view the popularity of the shrine, had laid the foundation stone to raise the Bhagwan Valmiki Temple, at a cost of Rs 180 crore in 2013.

An elaborate design has been prepared as per which, the temple will have a central hall flanked by four porticoes in all directions and approached by a causeway attached with deoris (entrance portals) at both ends.

The central ‘shikhar’ of this memorial would be of 84-foot in height, circular in nature and it would rest on an octagonal drum having windows to allow light inside. The temple would stand in a holy sarovar, which would be further connected to the parikarma (circumambulation) with a wide bridge.

Besides, a pocket of 11 acres is being developed as an exhibition and congregation complex with a sangat hall having a capacity of 5,000 persons, a Sanskrit library, a museum and a panorama to highlight the life and history of Bhagwan Valmiki as well as major events of the Ramayana.

Officials of the district administration said structures of the main temple and other buildings were finished and the project could be finished by the deadline.

A fair in October and November is held every year here and is known as Ram Tirath Mela.

The Ram Tirth area is believed to be the hermitage of Bhagwan Valmiki where he composed the epic Ramayana, and offered shelter to Mata Sita after she was banished from Ayodhya. She is believed to have given birth to Lord Ram’s sons, Luv and Kush here.