Patna: In a significant move, the state cabinet led by Chief Minister (CM) Nitish Kumar in a meeting held on July 1 approved the construction of a grand temple of Mata Sita along other structures at Punaura Dham, a sacred site in Sitamarhi district renowned for being the birth place of Mata Sita.
According to details, the site will be developed on the lines of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Kshetra Tirtha Kshetra, Ayodhya with an estimated cost of around Rs 882 crores 87 lakh.
Sharing the details, CM Nitish Kumar in a post on X said “I am happy to inform that the cabinet has approved the plan for the construction of a grand temple and other structures for the holistic development of Punaura Dham, Sitamarhi, the birth place of Jagat Janani Maa Janaki.”
The CM added that the work on the project will commence very soon and he already has instructed to lay the foundation stone of the project in August this year.
“We are determined to complete the construction of the grand temple in Punaura Dham soon. Its overall development will be done on the lines of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra, Ayodhya,” said CM Kumar.
मुझे बताते हुए अत्यंत प्रसन्नता हो रही है कि जगत जननी मां जानकी की जन्मस्थली पुनौराधाम, सीतामढ़ी को समग्र रूप से विकसित किए जाने हेतु भव्य मंदिर सहित अन्य संरचनाओं के निर्माण की योजना को आज कैबिनेट से मंजूरी दे दी गई है। आज कैबिनेट में पुनौराधाम के समग्र विकास के लिए तैयार की गई… pic.twitter.com/JFdAqPm1bm
— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) July 1, 2025
“The construction of the grand temple of Maa Janaki in Punaura Dham is a matter of good fortune and pride for all the countrymen and especially for all of us Biharis,” he added.
Notably, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in April this year also approved the final alignment for the 240km long “Ram Janki Path (route)”, connecting Ayodhya and Sitamarhi.
The culturally significant project being constructed with a cost of Rs 6155 crore will connect Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir and Purauna Dham in Sitamarhi of Bihar via Siwan and Saran district. The Ram Janki Path upon completion will benefit devotees visiting the religiously significant places linked with Ramayana via road.
The 240km long route starts at Mehrauna Ghat near the inter-state borders of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and ends near Bhittha mod near Nepal border, passing through Siwan, Saran, East Champaran, Sheohar and Sitamarhi districts.
It is worth recalling here, that the Union Government in October last year had approved a project related to doubling of 256km railway tracks between the two religiously significant sites with an estimated cost of around Rs4563 crore.
The approval was given days after CM Nitish Kumar requested the Union Government for doubling of the railway tracks between the two locations.
The state government in September last year had also commenced the land acquisition process (50 acre) near Punaura Dham as part of the government’s effort to elevate the infrastructure and development of facilities for the devotees visiting the sacred site.
Other key decisions of state cabinet
The state cabinet in the meeting also approved ‘Kalakaar Pension Yojna’ under which artists of the state will get a monthly allowance of Rs 3000. The cabinet also approved the Guru-Shishya Parampara scheme with an allocation of Rs 1 crore 11 lakhs for 2025-26. In all a total of 24 agendas were accorded nod in the meeting.
Among the other key announcements was the ‘Mukhyamantri Pratigya Yojna’ under which internship of Rs 4 to 6 thousands will be provided to eligible candidates. The scheme aims to help the youths to develop their skill set and help upgrading their career.
The cabinet also allocated Rs 30 crore for the establishment of soil testing laboratory in the state along allocating over Rs 3800 crores for the National Mission for Natural Farming.
