Mamata Banerjee Lays Foundation For World's Tallest Mahakal Shiva Idol

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced the construction of the world's tallest idol of the Mahakal avatar of Lord Shiva at the temple complex at Matigara in the north Bengal city of Siliguri, the foundation stone of which was laid by her in the presence of leaders from various religious communities.

Speaking on the occasion, Banerjee said the 216-feet-high structure would include a 108-feet bronze sculpture of the deity.

She added that the complex, named 'Mahakal Mahatirtha', would be built over 17.41 acres and completed in about two-and-a-half years.

It would be operated by the Mahakal temple trust after opening it to the public, the Chief Minister added.

"We have already handed over the land and floated a tender for the construction of the complex, which will be among the largest temple premises of Lord Shiva across the globe. The land-filling process would begin immediately. The complex will have an accommodating capacity of one lakh pilgrims a day," Banerjee said.

Stating that the temple complex would unite the spiritual legacy of the plains of Bengal to that of its hills, owing to the preexisting Mahakal temple in Darjeeling, Banerjee said the project would revitalise religious tourism in the region.

"In line with the Jagannath Dham complex in Digha, built at a cost of Rs 30 crore and which has already witnessed a pilgrim footfall of 1.25 crore, and the 17.18-acre Durga Angan complex in New Town, the Mahakal temple will become an international tourism destination. Siliguri will no longer be a transit point; it will become a tourism hub, uniting faith, pilgrimage, business and employment," she said.

"I had said this before, and I will do whatever it takes to put Bengal in the number one position among states in this country," Banerjee declared.

The Chief Minister also announced the setting up of an 'international convention centre' in Siliguri to promote business in north Bengal.

"We have already identified the land for this project and will hand over the plot for free to the private party that has been selected for its construction," Banerjee said.

Banerjee utilised the platform to also inaugurate a bunch of social services projects, like school buildings, luxury buses and creches for children of tea garden workers. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)