Durgiana Mandir set to get a makeover

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 23

A visit to the Durgiana Mandir will soon be an all-together different experience. For, the state government is all set to implement the temple beautification project worth Rs60 crore, which will be officially inaugurated by Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal here on Saturday.

At present, the area around this eight-decade-old Hindu pilgrimage site, which has an architecture similar to the Golden Temple, witnesses chaos with unfinished concrete base, dug up roads, inadequate washrooms and uneven ramps and passage.

Durgiana Temple Management Committee general secretary Arun Khanna said the approach to the holy place would be transformed according to world-class standards.

There’s a provision of two- level basement parking to accommodate nearly 400 four-wheelers and 500 motorcycles.

Other structures under the plan include an open-air theatre, “jora ghar” (for keeping shoes), landscaping and public utility services.

The Amritsar Improvement Trust, which has been entrusted with the task, aims to complete the first phase within four months.

Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi said, all chaos, confusion and problems that pilgrims had to face would be a thing of the past.

Durgiana Mandir located near the Hathi gate and the railway station derives its name from Goddess Durga.