New housing complexes in Shirdi for 15,000 pilgrims

SHIRDI: In view of heavy rush of pilgrims, the Shirdi-based Saibaba Sansthan, in collaboration with a Chennai-based trust, is constructing two new housing complexes to provide lodging to nearly 15,000 devotees.

Chennai's Shri Saibaba trust has donated Rs 100 crore for the work while the Saibaba Sansthan has spent Rs 40 crore on the soon-to-be-completed project, Sansthan's executive officer Kishore More told PTI today.

Under the project, two ashrams are being constructed, one with 1,536 rooms in 12 buildings (one building having 128 rooms) and the other will have six buildings. One ashram will provide accommodation for 10,000 devotees, while the second has the capacity to lodge in 4,000 people, More said.

The rates would be less as compared to private hotels, he said, adding that the devotees could book the rooms online.

The Saibaba Sansthan already has a facility to accommodate 12,000 devotees in 1,143 rooms and some big halls.

The 'prasadalaya' is also made available to devotees by Sansthan at reasonable rates, More added.