Bhojpuri actor and singer Manoj Tiwari shows a model of the temple dedicated to Team India in Kaimur district. Picture by Sanjay Choudhary

Patna, July 8: Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tiwari has kept the promise he made to his fans and the Indian cricket team three months ago.

On April 1, Tiwari had promised to build a temple in the honour of the Indian cricket team if the latter won the World Cup final on April 2.

The Bhojpuri star has kept his word and given away a part of his land in his native village Atarwaliy, 10km from Mohania in Kaimur district, where the temple as well as a sports academy will come up.

Tiwari visited his village today to inspect the land where the temple and the academy will be constructed. He was accompanied by five other men who surveyed four likely plots for the project in the village.

“Before the Indian team entered the semi-final, I had decided I would construct a temple dedicated to Team India if it won the World Cup. The team has fulfilled not only my wish but also a dream long nurtured by an entire nation of cricket lovers. Now, it’s my duty to fulfil my promise. I will build a temple as well as a sports academy to promote sports in the state,” Tiwari told The Telegraph.

He further said he is expecting the construction of the temple and the academy to get over in six months. “It will take at least six months to complete the temple and the academy construction work. Both the temple and the academy will be situated on the same premises.

“The construction may get delayed a little because of rain but we will try to start the work this month itself, depending on the weather,” said Tiwari.

About the budget of the project, Tiwari said: “I am looking at a cost of around Rs 50 lakh for the temple. Special artists will be invited from Jaipur because the statues will be made from the finest marble which is available in the Pink City only. The artists are supposed to be the best in the country for carving statues. The structure of the temple is also unique. It would have a giant bat and ball carved atop the tomb which would be visible from a distance of at least a kilometre. The temple would have big statues of Dhoni and Sachin and smaller statues of the other players. Four priests with the knowledge of cricket and Vedas will be appointed to perform the puja.”

“As far as the sports academy is concerned, it will be build at a cost of Rs 1 crore and its name would be Lalit Chandra Dev Sports Academy. Lalit is the name of my mother and Chandra Dev is my father’s name. I have dedicated the sports academy to them. The academy will attract young enthusiasts who want to make their future in sports. The academy will not be only about cricket. It would also include facilities for other sports like athletics, football, volleyball, basketball and badminton,” Tiwari added.

A total of three acre land will be used for the temple and the sports academy. Of the total land, around one acre belongs to Tiwari while the rest has been donated by villagers.

According to Tiwari, all paper work has been completed and an interior designer is being called from Mumbai who would look into the décor of the temple and the academy. “Yes, I will call experts to design the temple and the academy. I want the temple to look magnificent. The academy will also have statues of great sports personalities who have represented India on national and international level, like P.T. Usha, Dhyan Chand, Bhaichung Bhutia, Kapil Dev and many more, who will keep inspiring the sport enthusiasts during their training session.”

He said he will invite chief minister Nitish Kumar and Team India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the inauguration of the temple and the academy.