Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple to purchase nearby building for 100 crore to help expand operations

Mumbai: Siddhivinayak temple trust, Prabhadevi, will acquire its neighbouring three-storey building named Ram Mansion to expand operations. The trust is also in talks with the adjacent Siddhivinayak Cooperative Housing Society for similar acquisition.Acharya Pawan Kumar Tripathi, treasurer of Siddhivinayak temple, said, "The deal with Ram Mansion is nearly finalised. Talks are under way with Siddhivinayak society. This additional space will help us enhance our infrastructure and welfare activities." A real estate broker operating in Prabhadevi said Ram Mansion was built after an old chawl was demolished many years ago. "The houses are small 1 BHK apartments mostly rented out to tenants. The owner lives on the top floor." There are 20 flats in this building.Ram Mansion is reportedly located on a private plot that measures 708 sq m while Siddhivinayak society whose gate is right beside the temple is built on trust land. Temple authorities have said the wider space measuring 1,800 sq m derived from acquiring both these societies will facilitate a darshan queue complex much like the one in Shirdi Sai Baba temple. The future plan includes a prasad room, toilets and changing rooms for worshipers At present queues spill out into the main road behind the barricades. People have no access to lavatories either.Reports say the public notice about the acquisition of Ram Mansion says that its managing committee has assured the trust that the plot will be free of encumbrance. Trust chairman Sada Sarvankar told mediapersons that the Rs 100 crore the trust is paying to the residents of Ram Mansion for the plot is nearly twice the market rate.Siddhivinayak trust is controlled by the state law and judiciary department, which has cleared this proposal. The temple offers medical facilities, educational assistance and runs a library as part of its charitable and social activity.