Varanasi, June 26: Following the completion of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham (corridor), the temple’s monthly donations have increased significantly, surpassing Rs 5 crore. The temple got gifts of Rs 3.24 crore in May this year, compared to Rs 21 lakh in May last year, a 15-fold increase.
Sunil Kumar Verma, chief executive officer of the temple trust, stated that with the increased number of devotees following the Dham’s expansion, contributions have swelled significantly.
According to him, the temple received Rs 71 lakh in contributions in April 2021, whereas it collected Rs 5.45 crore in April this year.
The corridor, a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was inaugurated on December 13, last year in a lavish ceremony.
On March 8, 2019, the Prime Minister set the groundwork for the project. Along with a flood of local visitors, there has also been a tremendous influx of tourists. It has also benefited local artisans and traders.
According to statistics, phase one of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham cost Rs 339 crore to complete, and 23 buildings were opened, providing a range of services such as Yatri Suvidha Kendras, Vedic Kendra, Mumukshu Bhavan, Bhogshala, museum, viewing gallery, and food courts.
Over 300 properties were purchased and acquired as part of the project. The project now spans over five lakh square feet, up from around 3,000 square feet previously. Over 40 ancient temples uncovered during the demolition of old buildings have been repaired and beautified, with no changes made to their original architecture.
