On June 26, the Bihar government announced the establishment of a Trust led by the Chief Secretary to oversee the construction and redevelopment of the grand temple dedicated to Maa Janaki at Punaura Dham, the birthplace of Goddess Sita, located in Sitamarhi district.

The new temple at Punaura Dham is designed to mirror the grandeur of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. According to a gazette notification from the law department, the Trust is named 'Shree Janaki Janm Bhumi Punaura Dham Mandir Nyas Samiti' and will be operational immediately.

The Chief Secretary will serve as the Chairman of the Trust, with the Development Commissioner as Vice-Chairman.

Additionally, the Trust will include five other members: the Mahanth of Punaura Dham, the Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary from three departments—tourism, road construction, and urban development and housing—and the Divisional Commissioner of the Tirhut Division.

The Trust's bank account will be managed by the Secretary and Treasurer.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recently unveiled the final design for the Janaki temple on June 22, 2025. He expressed his excitement on social media, stating, 'I am pleased to announce that the design for the comprehensive development of Punaura Dham, Sitamarhi, which includes the construction of a grand temple and other facilities, is now finalized.

The construction of this grand temple is expected to fulfill the aspirations of the local populace and enhance tourism in the region, as highlighted by the Chief Minister during the Pragati Yatra aimed at the integrated development of this religious site.

Currently, 17 acres of land is designated for the Punaura Dham temple, with plans underway to acquire an additional 50 acres to facilitate extensive development.