A major temple-like complex dedicated to Maa Durga, to be called Durga Angan, is moving swiftly from proposal to reality in Newtown, officials say. The government has finalised a 12.6-acre plot opposite Eco Park, near the Westin hotel and adjacent to land owned by the Ramakrishna Mission, and has put in place a trust to manage the project. Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO), which built the Jagannath Dham in Digha, has been entrusted with its execution.

The project, formally announced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a party event on July 21, received cabinet approval in August. HIDCO invited bids on August 22 for an estimated project cost of about Rs 261.98 crore, with bids having closed on September 11, a government official said.

Work to raise and prepare the site, including soil dumping to level the plot, has been under way for roughly a week, and the government aims to complete the complex within two years.

Speaking at the inauguration of a Sharadotsav festival in Selimpur Pally, the Chief Minister described the scheme as a year-round spiritual and cultural destination. “I will build a Durga Angan, like Jagannath Dham. The place has also been finalised. The trust has also been formed; it will take as much time as it takes to build,” she said. The newly formed trust will manage the complex, signalling the state’s intention to retain administrative control rather than hand it to an external body.

Officials said the Newtown location was chosen for its accessibility and potential to attract tourists and devotees throughout the year. Placing the complex opposite Eco Park and near major hospitality and institutional properties is expected to maximise footfall and connectivity for pilgrims and visitors, they added.

Durga Angan is being presented by the state as a cultural and economic addition to the city’s attractions, modelled on the Jagannath Dham in Digha, which the Chief Minister inaugurated earlier this year on Akshaya Tritiya. The Digha project, a roughly Rs 250 crore development, sparked debate after it was handed over to ISKCON and drew criticism from opposition parties over the use of public funds for a religious structure.

HIDCO officials and the trust will now move ahead with detailed design, permissions and tendering processes. As site preparation continues, the state has said it will release further details on project timelines, funding schedules and the trust’s governance structure in the coming weeks.