Security wall spanning 4 km to be erected around Ram Temple in Ayodhya
Ayodhya (UP), Apr 14 (PTI): A security wall spanning approximately four kilometres is being erected around the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and is anticipated to be finalised in 18 months, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Building Construction Committee chairperson Nripendra Misra on Monday said.
Updates regarding the Ram Temple's construction were discussed on the third day of the meeting of the committee on Monday, officials said here.
The meeting centred on providing updates regarding the temple's construction progress, encompassing new security measures, installations of statues and developments in the surrounding precincts, they said.
A significant religious ceremony, the 'Kalash Pujan Vidhi', was also held in the morning at the main peak of the sanctum sanctorum and the 'kalash' was positioned.
Misra indicated that the Ram Temple construction endeavour is advancing towards completion within six months.
A security wall spanning approximately four kilometres is expected to be finalised in 18 months, he said.
"Engineers India Limited will construct the security wall for the Ram Temple. The conclusive resolution regarding the wall's height, thickness and design has been established. Construction will be initiated after soil testing," Misra said.
He said the passenger facility centre's capacity with a storage facility will be constructed on 10 acres within the Ram Temple complex and it will feature 62 storage counters.
A meditation precinct will also be established on 10 acres within the Ram Janmabhoomi Complex for devotees to worship, he said.
"All the statues of Sapta Mandal temples arrived in Ayodhya on Sunday. Each of them has reached its respective temple.
"The statues have been delivered to all seven temples. These statues, originating from Jaipur, have been placed inside," Misra stated.
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India denied Pope Francis’ visit, say Bishops; ‘government did not open the door’
New Delhi: Following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88, senior Indian bishops have expressed sorrow not only over his passing but also over what they describe as a missed opportunity for India, reported Maktoob Media.
According to Delhi Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto and Thamarassery Bishop Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil, the Indian government repeatedly failed to grant permission for the Pope's long-awaited visit, despite consistent interest from the Vatican.
“He too was waiting,” said Archbishop Couto. “Five years ago, he had said, ‘I am knocking on the doors of your government, but they are not opening the doors to me.’ Now maybe God has opened the doors for him in heaven.” His words echoed deep regret that India never hosted the late pontiff, who had made clear his intention to visit the country.
Bishop Inchananiyil reinforced the sentiment, stating, “The Pope had a special desire to visit India. Unfortunately, our doors did not open. That caused him great sorrow.”
The Pope’s unfulfilled visit has drawn renewed scrutiny toward the Indian government’s apparent reluctance, despite earlier gestures suggesting otherwise. At the G7 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had publicly extended an invitation to Pope Francis, and Union Minister George Kurien had emphasized that both the Indian state and the Christian community were awaiting his visit. However, the formal diplomatic process that would enable such a trip never reached fruition.
India has not hosted a papal visit in over 25 years. The last visit was by Pope John Paul II in 1999, who also made a significant trip in 1986. Prior to that, Pope Paul VI had visited Mumbai in 1964 for the International Eucharistic Congress, marking the first-ever papal visit to the country.
Despite India being home to one of the largest Catholic populations in Asia greater than in many Christian-majority nations such as East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore the late pontiff was never able to set foot on Indian soil. In 2017, his planned visit fell through when India did not extend an official invitation, leading him instead to visit neighboring Myanmar and Bangladesh.
