Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple projects in Gujarat's Somnath through video conferencing.

The projects inaugurated include the Somnath Promenade, Somnath Exhibition Centre, and the reconstructed temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of Shree Parvati Temple during the event.

The temple is proposed to be constructed with a total outlay of ₹30 crore. This will include temple construction in Sompura Salats Style, development of Garbha Griha and Nritya Mandap.

The Somnath Exhibition Centre, built in the premises of ‘Tourist Facilitation Centre’, displays exhibits from the dismantled parts of the old Somnath temple. The sculptures carry Nagar style temple architecture of old Somnath.

Developed under the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme, the 1.48 kilometre-long Somnath Promenade has been built at a cost of over Rs 47 crore.

“We need to strengthen religious tourism. This will also provide employment to youth. They (youth) will also get knowledge about our past. Faith can't be crushed from terror. We should learn from the past," said PM Modi.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister of State (MoS) for Tourism Shripad Naik were also present at the event.

PM Modi is the incumbent chairman of Shree Somnath Trust (SKT), the religious trust which manages and maintains the Somnath temple complex, one of the most important places of worship for Hindus in the country.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the then national president of the BJP and a trustee of the SKT had laid the foundation stone of the promenade in December, 2018.

 It begins from the Sagar Darshan guest house beside the temple and ends at the Triveni Sangam. The promenade has been built with an aim to prevent erosion of the coast while also adding to pilgrim facilities.

Image source: The Indian Express