Dr. Vishakha Srivastava
Ayodhya: The proposed mosque project in Dhannipur, Ayodhya district, has gained fresh momentum, with the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) Trust preparing to submit a revised architectural map to the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) within a week of receiving land-use clearance.
Zufar Ahmad Farooqui, chairman of the IICF Trust, said the land-use certificate sought from the district administration is expected shortly. Once the clearance is received, the trust will submit the revised map for approval. The proposed mosque is to be named Mohammad Bin Abdullah, after Prophet Muhammad’s father.
Project Scaled Down Due to Funding Constraints
Farooqui said the mosque’s original design has been substantially scaled down because of financial constraints. The initial project was estimated to cost around ₹300 crore, while the revised plan is expected to cost approximately ₹5 crore.
Under the new design, the covered area will span 3,500 square feet, while the total campus will cover 15,000 square feet, with the remaining area reserved for greenery.
The trust has collected ₹1.5 crore through public contributions so far. It plans to launch a fundraising campaign for the remaining ₹3.5 crore or more after the map receives approval and construction begins. According to Farooqui, several donors have assured financial support once work starts at the site.
NGO Questions Delay and Demands Financial Transparency
Meanwhile, NGO Dahej Par Prahaar has questioned the prolonged delay in construction. Following a site inspection, its representatives alleged that funds had been collected without corresponding progress and raised concerns about possible financial irregularities.
The NGO also pointed out that the five-acre plot allocated by the government in accordance with the Supreme Court’s verdict remains without a boundary wall. It has demanded transparency in the IICF’s financial accounts.
The organisation has warned that if construction does not begin, it will stage a protest outside the Sunni Central Waqf Board’s office in Lucknow within 15 days. It has also threatened to approach the High Court, seeking the return of the land to the state government.
The revised project plan and the proposed timeline for securing approval are expected to determine the next steps in the long-delayed mosque project.
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