Redevelopment work of Mata Mahalaxmi temple may start soon

Chandrapur: The redevelopment project of Mata Mahakali temple, the patron deity of the city, has gathered momentum as the public works department (PWD) on Wednesday opened bids submitted for the tender worth Rs60 crore for the first phase.
PWD officials said the work will be awarded soon to the lowest bidder.
The historic temple is more than 500 years old. It was built by queen Hiratani, wife of first Gond king Khandkya Bulladshah, in the 15th century. The first redevelopment was carried out by Gond queen Herai in the 18th century.
The temple, which is visited by lakhs of devotees every year, has not seen major redevelopment for more than 200 years.
Guardian minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, during his stint as finance and planning minister in the previous term, had approved the redevelopment project worth Rs110 crore on the line of Pandharpur temple.
Delay in implementing the project escalated its cost by Rs25 crore and a revised proposal of Rs75 crore has been forwarded for the second phase. After BJP returned to power in the state, Mungantiwar initiated the first phase of the redevelopment project.
The first phase includes construction of a dharmashala, kitchen hall, darshan Ganga, shopping blocks, entrance gate, flag post and mandap area. The main gate will have carvings and murals. The first phase also includes the redevelopment of existing amenities and construction of a protection wall around the temple.
Official sources said the project was proposed by Chandrapur Municipal Corporation in 2019, and Rs59.25 crore was sanctioned for the first phase on January 2, 2020. The project remained stuck for want of political will, they said.
The sources said the second phase worth Rs75 crore will include construction of special entrances from VVIPs, 80 feet tall idol of Mata Mahakali, deepstambh (lamppost), museum, towers and development of Zarpat River ghat.
Since the project requires clearance from the archaeological department, a proposal has been forwarded to its regional director, Mumbai (west) through the district collector.