The Maharashtra government has awarded a contract for the construction of the Maharashtra Bhavan at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai-based Generic Engineering Construction And Projects Ltd (GECPL) for Rs 119.50 crore.
The construction of the 13-storey building, known as ‘Bhakta Niwas, is expected to be completed within three years.
The building will be constructed on a two-acre plot near the Ram Mandir, which has been allotted by the Uttar Pradesh government in March. The facility is aimed at providing affordable accommodation for devotees from Maharashtra visiting Ayodhya.
In March, the Maharashtra state Cabinet approved the purchase of a 9,420.55-square-meter plot in Ayodhya for Rs67.14 crore to build the Maharashtra Bhavan. This development follows a commitment made by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his 2023 visit to Maharashtra. At that time, he agreed to allot land for the project near the Ram Temple after a request was made by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Last August, the Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD) issued a tender for the Maharashtra Bhavan. The estimated project cost was Rs113 crore. Two companies, Nirmiti Buildcon and GECPL, participated in the tender, with GECPL submitting a bid of Rs119.50 crore, while Nirmiti quoted Rs120.04 crore.
