Ayodhya Mosque Project Timeline Set for April 2026: Challenges and Progress 33 Years After Babri Demolition

Security tightens in Ayodhya on the anniversary of the Babri Mosque demolition

Thirty-three years after the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished by a mob in 1992, which subsequently led to the construction of the grand Ram temple, the new mosque project at Dhannipur village, approximately 25 km from the holy city, may potentially be rolled out around April 2026, according to the head of the trust responsible for the project.

"If everything aligns properly, and subject to the Ayodhya Development Authority's approval of the revised layout plan we hope to submit by December-end, a tentative timeline for the mosque project rollout could be around April 2026," stated Zufar Faruqi, chairman of the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF), the trust tasked with constructing the mosque complex.

However, despite various claims and counterclaims surrounding this anticipated project, uncertainties continue to loom over the original mosque plan, more than five years after the Ayodhya district administration, following Supreme Court orders, formally allocated five acres of land for its construction.

Faruqi revealed that the initial mosque layout plan was rejected by the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA). Even before this rejection, the IICF had decided to abandon the plan following community objections to its futuristic, modern design, opting instead for a more traditional, conservative design that is nearly ready for submission.

While the ADA's approval represents a crucial first step toward beginning the delayed mosque construction, the IICF faces additional challenges, including insufficient land at and around the Dhannipur site.

"These are early days. We intend to utilize the allotted land, but if acquiring additional land becomes problematic, the project may need to be implemented in phases and potentially at different locations," Faruqi explained.

This statement appears to be the first official indication that the mosque project might be developed in parts, with some elements of the overall complex potentially being constructed away from the current Dhannipur site that was formally transferred by the state government in August 2020.

Following an intensely contested legal battle, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on November 9, 2019, awarded 2.77 acres of disputed land to a trust for constructing a Ram temple, while allocating five acres at a "prominent site" in Ayodhya for the mosque.

"We were granted five acres at Dhannipur, but due to certain technicalities, the effective area is only around four acres, so there's a significant possibility of the project being distributed across multiple locations," Faruqi stated.

However, he dismissed suggestions that the Dhannipur site's distance from Ayodhya city proper might have necessitated a location change for the mosque and its adjoining facilities, which include plans for a 500-bed multispecialty hospital, community kitchen, and educational institutions.

"What standing do those raising such issues have? One might understand if objections came from the Wakf Board, but why should others take issue with this site?" questioned Faruqi, who also serves as chairman of the UP Sunni Wakf Board.

Criticism and lack of consensus regarding the project design forced a layout change. Currently, delays in securing essential clearances have postponed the mosque project launch, even as the Ram temple construction has been formally completed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently unfurling a 'Dharm Dhwaj' atop the temple.

"It's unfair to compare the mosque project with the Ram temple construction, which was a public-driven initiative," Faruqi noted, acknowledging that even after obtaining ADA approval, the IICF would require substantial funding.

"We estimate that the mosque, along with a 'wazukhana' (ablution area) and associated structures, would cost approximately Rs 65 crore. Currently, we have just over Rs 3 crore available," Faruqi admitted, noting that both donations and public response to the mosque project have been significantly subdued.

"The project can commence even if we secure the initial Rs 10-15 crore. That's why we're eager to obtain mandatory clearances, such as Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) approval, which would enable the trust to seek donations from overseas communities. We're confident that funding will accelerate once the project begins," he explained.

Having submitted all "necessary documentation" to the Center for FCRA clearance, the IICF is now anxiously awaiting a positive outcome by "year-end or early next year."

Faruqi acknowledged that major donors from the community within India haven't shown significant enthusiasm for the mosque construction.

"Prominent community members haven't demonstrated much interest in the cause. Door-to-door fundraising is both laborious and requires resources we lack, making our best option focusing on major overseas donors after securing FCRA clearance," he added.

The mosque debate has recently garnered attention due to various political statements.

Initially, suspended Trinamool Congress MP Humayun Kabir provoked controversy by announcing a "Babri masjid-style" mosque plan in West Bengal's Murshidabad district.

Subsequently, Defence Minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh generated both curiosity and criticism with his claim that India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, supported constructing the Babri mosque using government funds.