LUCKNOW: The Ram Mandir complex in Ayodhya is set to undergo a significant expansion with the construction of a new mandir and a dedicated memorial to honour those who lost their lives during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Announced by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the development marks a transition from the ceremonial completion of the Ram Mandir to long-term planning aimed at managing large-scale pilgrim inflow, preserving sacred sites, and institutionalising the historical memory of the movement. The proposed additions are expected to become integral elements of the Mandir complex, reflecting both devotional continuity and remembrance.
Addressing the media, Trust General Secretary Champat Rai outlined the magnitude of planning underway, stressing that the Trust is designing systems not for routine footfall, but for extraordinary surges during festivals and special religious occasions. “If a situation like the Kumbh Mela emerges here, arrangements will have to be increased severalfold,” Rai said, signalling the scale of the challenge ahead.
In a significant announcement, the Ram Mandir Trust revealed that a new Mandir will be constructed at the site where Lord Ram Lalla, along with his brothers, was seated before the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. Adjacent to this, a memorial will also be built to honour those who lost their lives during the Ram Mandir movement formally embedding remembrance of the movement’s sacrifices into the Mandir complex itself.
Rai recalled that when Ram Lalla was first brought to Ayodhya, the murtis were placed in a small wooden structure that housed them until January 18, 2024. That site is now considered sacred by devotees, and construction of a permanent small Mandir there is already underway.
With millions expected to visit Ayodhya annually, footwear management has emerged as a critical logistical concern. Rai said the Trust is constructing shoe storage facilities at two locations within the complex. Once operational, these facilities will be able to store footwear for 25,000 people at a time, with systems in place to handle up to two lakh pairs of shoes over the course of a single day.
“These arrangements are essential to prevent congestion and ensure smooth entry and exit of devotees,” Rai said, underlining that crowd flow, not just capacity, is at the heart of the planning.
Security infrastructure is being strengthened on the advice of central agencies, reflecting the sensitive nature of the site. Rai confirmed that a 3.5-kilometre-long boundary wall is under construction around the remaining Mandir complex. The wall’s design has been finalised based on inputs from the CRPF, CISF and the Special Security Force (SSF).
“This construction will continue for some time, and we cannot yet say whether it will be completed by 2026,” Rai noted, indicating that the Trust is prioritising security standards over deadlines.
Rai also announced that Pran Pratishtha Ekadashi will be observed on December 31, adding that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has accepted the Trust’s invitation to attend the event. “When the country’s Defence Minister comes, the Chief Minister might also come,” he said, hinting at the high-profile nature of the ceremony.
