Mon Mar 17 20:30:00 UTC 2025: **Ayodhya Ram Temple Nears Completion, Will Not Have Chief Priest Initially**
**Ayodhya, March 18, 2025** – The construction of the Ayodhya Ram Temple is nearing completion, with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra (SRJTK) general secretary, Champat Rai, announcing on Sunday that the project is 96% finished and expected to be fully ready by June. However, the temple will not have a chief priest appointed at this time.
Rai stated that the trust had approached the late Mahanat Satyendra Das six months ago regarding the appointment of a successor, but no suitable candidate has been found. Das, who served as the chief priest for many years, passed away in February at the age of 83. Rai cited the difficulty in finding someone with Das’s experience and stature as the reason for the delay in appointing a new chief priest.
The trust also revealed that it has spent approximately Rs 2,150 crore on the temple’s construction and paid Rs 396 crore in taxes over the past five years, including Rs 270 crore in GST. Furthermore, they reported a significant increase in tourism, with 16 crore visitors to Ayodhya in the past year since the temple’s consecration. The trust’s financial records are regularly audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
First Piper 