Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari announces ₹1,000 crore corpus for temple renovation
Synopsis
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari has pledged ₹1,000 crore over two years to renovate old Hindu temples and monasteries under a scheme called the 'Tirtha Kshetra Circuit' — explicitly modelling it on the Centre's religious infrastructure push at Ayodhya, Kashi, and Kedarnath. It is a sharp political signal in a state where religion and governance have long been contested terrain.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a ₹1,000 crore corpus for temple and monastery renovation on 6 November 2026 .
The initiative is named the 'Tirtha Kshetra Circuit' and will be executed over two years .
Coverage includes temples run by religious institutions as well as publicly managed ancient shrines.
The scheme is modelled on PM Narendra Modi 's religious infrastructure projects at Ayodhya , Kedarnath , Benaras , and Ujjain Mahakal .
This year's Gangasagar Mela has been declared an international fair , with special festival preparations planned for Chandannagar , Krishnanagar , Nabadwip , Shantipur , and Cooch Behar .
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday, 6 November 2026, announced the creation of a ₹1,000 crore corpus for the renovation of old Hindu temples and monasteries across the state. The announcement was made at the inauguration of a community Kali Puja at Aranghata in Nadia district, and the initiative has been named the 'Tirtha Kshetra Circuit' — or Pilgrimage Circuit.
What the Tirtha Kshetra Circuit Covers
According to the Chief Minister, the entire ₹1,000 crore outlay will be deployed over a period of two years, covering ancient temples and Hindu monasteries across West Bengal — including those run by religious institutions as well as publicly managed ones. Adhikari explicitly noted that the initiative would extend beyond privately managed religious sites.
"We will spend ₹1,000 crore in the next two years to renovate all the old Hindu monasteries and temples. I have named it the 'Tirtha Kshetra Circuit'. Apart from private places, we will work to renovate the ancient temples that are run by religious institutions and even by the public," Adhikari said at the event.
Invoking the Modi Model
The Chief Minister drew a direct parallel with the Centre's religious tourism push under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing renovations at Kedar Dham, Badrinath Dham, Ayodhya Dham, Benaras, and Ujjain Mahakal as the template Bengal's state government intends to follow. The comparison is politically significant: it positions the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-aligned state administration as carrying the Centre's religious heritage model into Bengal.
Upcoming Festivals and Religious Events
Beyond the corpus announcement, Adhikari outlined a wider set of festival preparations. The state government plans to specially decorate Chandannagar in Hooghly district and Krishnanagar in Nadia district ahead of Jagaddhatri Puja, and Nabadwip, Shantipur, and Cooch Behar for the Ras Purnima festival. He also announced that this year's Gangasagar Mela has been declared an international fair, with preparations already underway.
Adhikari confirmed he will personally attend Jagaddhatri Puja in Chandannagar and Krishnanagar, and will participate in religious activities at the abode of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Nabadwip on Ras Purnima.
A Swipe at the Trinamool Congress Government
The Chief Minister also used the platform to take a jab at the previous administration led by Mamata Banerjee of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). He claimed that Durga idol immersions had historically faced disruptions under the prior regime, contrasting it with what he described as a smooth, restriction-free immersion season this year. Critics from the TMC have not yet formally responded to the remarks.
What Comes Next
No detailed project roadmap or implementing agency has been announced for the Tirtha Kshetra Circuit as of now. Observers will watch for the allocation mechanism and whether the corpus draws from the state budget or dedicated religious endowment funds. The announcement adds to a broader pattern of state governments across India investing in religious infrastructure as both a heritage and tourism driver.
Point of View
Adhikari is signalling a deliberate ideological reset for a state that the BJP has long accused of sidelining Hindu religious sentiment. The ₹1,000 crore figure is substantial for state-level religious infrastructure, but the announcement notably lacks a project timeline, an implementing body, or an accountability mechanism — gaps that will determine whether this becomes a genuine heritage programme or remains an election-cycle pledge. With Bengal's next state assembly election on the horizon, the timing and venue — a Kali Puja inauguration — leave little ambiguity about the intended audience.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tirtha Kshetra Circuit announced by West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari?
The Tirtha Kshetra Circuit is a ₹1,000 crore state government scheme to renovate old Hindu temples and monasteries across West Bengal over two years. It covers temples managed by religious institutions as well as publicly run ancient shrines.
When was the Tirtha Kshetra Circuit announced?
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the scheme on 6 November 2026 at the inauguration of a community Kali Puja in Aranghata, Nadia district.
How is the Bengal temple scheme linked to PM Modi's projects?
Adhikari explicitly cited PM Narendra Modi's religious infrastructure work at Kedar Dham, Badrinath Dham, Ayodhya Dham, Benaras, and Ujjain Mahakal as the model for the Tirtha Kshetra Circuit, framing Bengal's initiative as an extension of the Centre's approach.
What other religious events did Suvendu Adhikari announce at the event?
Adhikari announced special decorations for Jagaddhatri Puja in Chandannagar and Krishnanagar, festival preparations for Ras Purnima in Nabadwip, Shantipur, and Cooch Behar, and declared the Gangasagar Mela an international fair this year.
What did Adhikari say about the previous Trinamool Congress government?
Adhikari alleged that Durga idol immersions had frequently faced restrictions or disruptions under the previous Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government, contrasting it with what he described as a smooth, hurdle-free immersion season this year.
