Patna: In a significant decision ahead of Bihar assembly election, Nitish government on Tuesday sanctioned Rs 882.87 crore for the integrated development of Maa Janaki’s grand temple at Punaura Dham, believed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita, in Sitamarhi district.
The decision to sanction the fund was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Nitish commented on ‘X’, “I am extremely delighted to inform that the birthplace of Ma Janaki, Punaura Dham, Sitamarhi, has received approval from the cabinet on Tuesday for a comprehensive development plan, including the construction of a grand temple and other structures. The cabinet has approved a budget of Rs 882.87 crore for the comprehensive development plan prepared for Punaura Dham. The implementation of this plan will commence soon.”
“I have instructed that its foundation stone be laid by the month of August. We are determined to complete the construction of the grand temple in Punaura Dham, Sitamarhi, at the earliest. Its comprehensive development will be carried out on the lines of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra, Ayodhya. The construction of the grand temple of Mother Janaki in Punaura Dham is a matter of fortune and pride for all the people of the country and especially for all of us in Bihar,” he added.
“In order to carry out integrated development of Maa Sita’s grand temple at Punaura Dham, the birthplace of Goddess Sita, on the lines of grand Ram temple built at Ayodhya, the cabinet sanctioned Rs 882.87 crore for the construction of the temple,” state cabinet secretariat department’s additional chief secretary (ACS) S Siddharth told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
Giving the breakup of Rs 882.87 crore, he said that Rs 137 crore would be spent on the development of the old temple and the premises while Rs 728 crore would be spent on tourism related development work besides Rs 16 crore would be spent on carrying out comprehensive maintenance for 10 years.
Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) would implement the project, he added.
Notably, the government has recently constituted a nine member “trust” christened as “Shree Janaki Janm Bhumi Punaura Dham Mandir Nyas Samiti” at Punaura village in Sitamarhi district.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had on June 22, 2025 unveiled the final design of the development of a grand Janaki temple.
A total of 17 acres of land is available at Punaura Dham temple premises besides the process is currently underway to acquire 50 acres of additional land to develop the place on a grand scale.
