The Maharashtra government has approved a Rs 94.12-crore proposal by the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganpati Mandir Trust to acquire 20 residential and commercial units at Ram Mansion Cooperative Housing Society in Prabhadevi, Mumbai. The purchase forms part of a Rs 100-crore expansion initiative aimed at improving facilities and managing the large crowds visiting the temple.
A government resolution issued on Thursday by the state law and judiciary department, which oversees the temple trust, authorises the acquisition of the properties in the three-storey building situated on a 708-square-metre private plot adjacent to the temple.
Under the approved terms, residential units will be purchased at ₹66,000 per square foot based on their existing carpet area, with an additional 40% carpet area included in the offer. Commercial premises will be acquired at Rs 1.11 lakh per square foot.
The total consideration for Ram Mansion has been fixed at Rs 94,11,65,550, inclusive of stamp duty, registration fees and other associated expenses. The amount will be paid from the trust’s available funds, with the government clarifying that the acquisition will not place any financial burden on the state exchequer.
“The property, located next to the temple’s existing waiting hall, is expected to provide much-needed space for managing queues and developing facilities such as a canteen, kitchen, storage area, accommodation for pilgrims and limited parking,” states the order.
Established in 1801, Siddhivinayak Temple attracts devotees from across India and abroad. Its limited space creates logistical challenges, particularly during festivals and periods of heavy footfall, when the trust spends considerably on temporary structures and crowd-control arrangements.
“The proposed acquisition is intended to address some of these logistical challenges by expanding the space available for visitor facilities,” said a senior law and judiciary official.
The trust is also discussing a possible acquisition with Siddhivinayak Cooperative Housing Society, located on land belonging to the trust near the temple. Together, the two properties cover approximately 1,800 square metres.
The managing committee approved the residential purchase rate in principle on March 31, 2025, followed by approval of the commercial property rate on July 7, 2025, subject to government clearance.
The approval comes more than two months after the state ordered a five-year audit of the trust’s accounts following allegations of theft involving devotees’ donations.
Source: Hindustan Times
