The long-awaited redevelopment of Punaura Dham, believed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita, has moved into the execution phase with Ahluwalia Contracts (India) Limited receiving the work order for the comprehensive development of the temple complex.
The work order was issued by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation on December 15, 2025, marking a major milestone in one of Bihar’s largest religious tourism infrastructure projects.
The project has witnessed rapid progress over the past year. In November 2024, the Bihar Cabinet approved ₹120.59 crore for acquisition of 50.50 acres of land required for the development of the temple complex and associated infrastructure.
Subsequently, BSTDC floated a tender in March 2025 for preparation of the architectural design and master plan of the project. In April 2025, the state cabinet approved Design Associates Inc. as the design consultant for the temple complex.
To oversee the project execution and future operations, the Bihar government constituted a nine-member trust committee in May 2025. The finalized design of the proposed temple complex was later unveiled by the Chief Minister in June 2025.
In July 2025, the Bihar Cabinet approved ₹882.87 crore for the comprehensive development of Punaura Dham, including temple construction, pilgrim amenities, tourism infrastructure, and allied facilities. Following the approval, BSTDC invited EPC tenders for the project, later issuing a re-tender in October 2025.
The foundation stone for the ambitious religious tourism project was laid on August 8, 2025, by the Union Home Minister in the presence of the Chief Minister of Bihar.
The redevelopment of Punaura Dham is expected to transform the site into a major spiritual and tourism destination, similar to other large-scale temple corridor projects developed across India in recent years.
