Patna: The idol of Lord Ram was established at the newly-constructed Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22.
Now, efforts are on to develop Punaura Dham, the birthplace of Goddess Sita in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district, into an easily accessible site for Hindu pilgrims.
The Nitish Kumar government, then in alliance with Congress and RJD, had announced last year a comprehensive development plan for Punaura Dham temple at a cost of Rs 72.47.
Now in power with BJP, Bihar CM Nitish on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to provide road and rail connectivity to Punaura Dham.
Written in Hindi with the subject line ‘Matter related to road and rail connectivity to Ma Sita’s birthplace located in Sitamarhi district at Punaura Dham’, Nitish congratulated Modi on the construction of Ayodhya Ram temple and brought to his notice that the birthplace of Sita also has huge religious following and significance among devotees.
Stating that Bihar government has acquired 50 acres of land to enhance and beautify the Punaura Dham, Nitish urged the PM to ensure speeding up of the Centre’s Ram-Janki Marg project, from Ayodhya to Sitamarhi.
The Bihar CM also requested Modi to ensure better railway connectivity between Sitamarhi and Ayodhya to encourage religious tourism and pilgrimages between the two sacred birthplaces.
Nitish ended his letter with a request to Modi to direct Ministry of Railways to start a Vande Bharat train service between Ayodhya and Sitamarhi.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide road and rail connectivity to Punaura Dham, the birthplace of Goddess Sita, located in Sitamarhi district of the state pic.twitter.com/xBe6HBPxPf
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2024
