The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir Trust in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, has unveiled a Rs. 100-crore expansion plan that begins with the acquisition of Ram Mansion, a three-storey residential building adjacent to the temple.
According to Shiv Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar, who heads the trust, the acquisition will pave the way for constructing a new darshan queue complex, prasadalaya, toilets, and changing rooms. The design will mirror the structured access model of the Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi, easing crowding and offering comfort to devotees.
Currently, thousands of visitors queue on the road outside the temple, with limited access to essential facilities. “Devotees frequently rely on the petrol pump opposite the temple for toilets. We feel bad that they stand on the road for darshan. The new complex will provide basic amenities and ease crowding,” Sarvankar told The Times of India.
The trust is also negotiating with the Siddhivinayak Cooperative Housing Society (CHS), built on temple-owned land. Together with Ram Mansion, the plots span about 1,800 square metres. While the CHS acquisition is complicated by a long lease extension in 2001, the trust remains optimistic about completing the purchase.
A public notice states that Ram Mansion, which comprises 20 flats of about 565 sq ft each, will be handed over free of encumbrances. Residents will receive compensation ranging from 1.5 to 2 times the market value. The state law and judiciary department has already approved the proposal.
Parallel to this, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning an underground parking facility for 450 cars beneath the adjoining maidan, with tenders expected soon. The BMC has also announced a three-phase beautification and upgradation project for the temple precinct, covering parts of Dadar, Mahim, Dharavi, Worli, and Lower Parel.
Built in 1801, Siddhivinayak Temple is among Mumbai’s most iconic shrines, famed for its unique Ganpati idol with a right-facing trunk. With growing footfall, the expansion is seen as vital to preserving sanctity while offering modern amenities to devotees.
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