West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee laid the foundation stone of the Mahakal Mahatirtha Temple in Siliguri on Friday, marking another major religious and cultural project after the Jagannath Dham at Digha and Durga Angan in New Town.

The temple will come up on 17.41 acres of land at the Matigara–Laxmi Township area in the heart of Siliguri.

Addressing the gathering during the foundation stone-laying ceremony, Banerjee said the Mahakal temple would be among the largest of its kind in the world.

“This will be one of the largest Mahakal temples in the world. Nearly one lakh devotees will be able to visit the temple complex every day,” she said, adding that the shrine has been named ‘Mahakal Mahatirtha Mandir’.

Referring to the state’s recent religious infrastructure initiatives, the Chief Minister said Bengal was witnessing a convergence of faith and culture.

“Jagannath Dham at Digha, Durga Angan in New Town and the Mahakal temple in Siliguri will attract tourists, devotees and visitors from across the world. These religious and cultural centres will gradually become major destinations in West Bengal,” she said.

Reiterating her political resolve, Banerjee added, “I had said I will make West Bengal number one. I will do it.”

She announced that apart from the main shrine, the complex would house the world’s tallest Mahakal statue with a total height of 216 feet.

“The bronze idol itself will be 108 feet high and it will stand on a 108-foot-high pedestal,” she said.

Banerjee also revealed plans for an international convention centre in Siliguri.

“The land has been identified. The state government will provide the land and a private agency will build it. This place will become a sacred business destination. Siliguri is no longer just a transit point,” she said.

Explaining the detailed layout of the temple, the Chief Minister said, “There will be two Nandi grihas on the 108-foot pedestal block, located on the eastern and western sides. A museum and a cultural hall will also be there. Along the temple boundary, there will be 12 Abhishek Lingam temples and replicas of the 12 Jyotirlingas of India. You will find the entire India here.”

She said the complex would have two circumambulatory paths where up to 10,000 devotees could gather at a time.

“As per Shaivite tradition, there will be four deities at the four corners—Ganesha in the south-west, Kartik in the north-west, Shakti in the north-east and Vishnu Narayan in the south-east,” Banerjee said.

Two sabha mandaps will also be built, with seating capacity for over 6,000 people. The temple complex will also include a prasad distribution centre, souvenir arcade, cafeteria, dala complex and accommodation for priests.

Highlighting the economic impact of religious tourism, Banerjee said the hotel, transport and restaurant sectors were already witnessing growth.

Banerjee also raised concerns over alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in other states.

“Today, migrant workers are being attacked for speaking Bengali. They are beaten in Assam, in Madhya Pradesh, in Bihar. We believe in living together with everyone. Taking a life is not religion. Giving life is religion,” she said.

The Chief Minister said the construction of the Mahakal Mahatirtha Temple is expected to be completed in about two and a half years.