Construction of the ground and first floors of Sri Ram temple at Ayodhya are likely to be completed by January 2024.

While the sanctum sanctorum (garbha griha) will be ready to place the murthi by next year's Makara Sankranti festival, the construction will reach the top of the temple by mid 2024.

So far, more than 45 per cent of the construction has been done.

In the new Ram Mandir, along with the present murthi, another larger murthi will be installed.

Architects have planned the temple in such a way that the rays of the rising sun fall on the forehead of God Sri Ram inside the garbha griha.

"Today the whole country is celebrating Lohri -- the sun entering 'Makar Rashi'. We have achieved more than half of our goal of building the Ram temple. As the sun enters 'Makar Rashi' in 2024, Lord Rama will sit in his original sanctum sanctorum," Rai told PTI.

“Work on the ground floor has reached the halfway point. It is believed that the ground floor of the sanctum sanctorum will be completed by August. The construction of a 21 ft high plinth or the temple floor has already been completed,” Rai said.

A layer of stones have been placed at a height of 11 feet. Eight layers of stones have been carved for the temple and five feet granite stones installed all around to strengthen the temple's foundations.

The ground floor of the sanctum sanctorum will include 170 pillars.

“The ground and first floors are likely to be completed by January 2024. However, it will take at least another five months to reach the top,” Project Manager Jagdish Afley said.

Rebuilding Sri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is a major promise of the ruling BJP. Analysts believe that the inauguration of garbha griha of Sri Ram Mandir in January 2024, few months before the general elections, may further boost the prospects of reelection of PM Narendra Modi led government at the centre.

It must be also noted that with the construction of Sri Ram temple in Ayodhya which is among the seven most holy places of Hinduism, the ancient city is seeing a major urban rejuvenation and renewal after many centuries. Further about it can be known from the below story.

Grand Ram Mandir: How A Massive Infrastructure Push By Modi And Yogi Is Set To Transform Ayodhya

(With inputs from PTI)