Ayodjya Ram Mandir construction starts, no iron will be used: Trust

Engineers now testing soil health at temple site

The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be constructed by adhering to India’s ancient and traditional construction techniques and copper plates will be used to fuse stone blocks with each other. The construction has “begun” and currently soil testing at the site is being done. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had performed the “bhoomi pujan” of the temple on August 5.

Members of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Supreme Court appointed trust for the construction of the temple, held a meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. Asking “Ram bhakts” to donate copper for the construction, the trust said donors can “engrave family names, place of origin or their community temples’ names” on copper plates which should be 18 inches long, 30 mm wide and three mm in depth.

“This way, the copper plates will not only symbolize the unity of this country but also be a testament to the entire country’s contribution towards mandir construction,” tweeted the trust. Iron will not be used in the construction.

“The Mandir will be built by adhering to India’s ancient and traditional construction techniques. It will also be built to sustain earthquakes, storms and other natural calamities. Iron won't be used in the construction of the Mandir,” the Trust said.

The Trust also called upon devotees of Lord Ramb to donate copper plates for the construction

After the meeting, Trust’s general-secretary Champat Rai said, “We are taking help of Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee and IIT Chennai. 1200 pillars with one metre diameter will be brought up from depth of 30-35 metre for a strong foundation.” The temple will be built to sustain earthquakes, storms and other natural calamities. Engineers from CBRI Roorkee, IIT-Madras along with L&T are currently testing the soil at the temple site and the construction work is expected to finish in 36-40 months, said the trust.

The temple will be 161 feet tall, three-storey structure on a raised platform with multiple turrets, pillars and domes and in ‘Nagara style’ of architecture. The original design by renowned temple architect Chandrakant Sompura in 1983 has been slightly modified.

◗ THE TRUST called upon devotees of Lord Ram to donate copper plates for the construction. The Mandir will be built by adhering to India’s ancient and traditional construction techniques