The Ahobilam Vaikunta MegaProject ... catalysing a massive renaissance in Indian temple art and architecture

As a Designer I have conceptualised a number of projects across various sectors from Conventional Energy and Clean Energy, to Urban Development to ... Education and Healthcare.

Usually my Project Capex ranges from upwards of US $ 30 million to a couple of billion dollars with some of these projects already under execution either by private players or by the Indian Government. The largest of these is a defence manufacturing project to which the Narendra Modi Govt. recently committed Rs. 40,000 Crores. The PM personally made the announcement recently in Lucknow of the Bundelkhand part of the scheme, though a firm capital commitment was made earlier in the Feb' 2018 union budget.

(https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/pm-modi-announces-rs-20000-crore-defence-corridor-for-bundelkhand/articleshow/63012081.cms)

Ahobilam Vaikunta ... Catalysing a massive renaissance in Indian Temple Art and Architecture and ancient sciences

Now for the first time, I have experimented with a Complex Megaproject consisting of :

1. A Giant Temple City project ... on the scale of Vatican City ( Capex : US $ 30 Billion )
2. A Mega University ... Nalanda University Re-Creation ( Capex : US $ 20 Billion )
3. Worlds Largest Disneyland ... at Sreesalem ( Capex : US $ 10 Billion )
4. Greening of Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh ... Using Israeli Technology

The last of these ( The creation of a thick forest across Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh, India ) is included within the Mega University project and will deploy Israeli water management technologies.

The purpose of this mega project is strategic. Its purpose is to catalyse a massive renaissance in Indian Temple Art and Architecture and the ancient science of shilpakala ... on a scale not seen in the last 2000 years.

Those interested can view and download the project concept presentation from Slideshare :

A total of US $ 60 Billion or Rs 3,90,000 Crores is therefore planned to be invested in Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh over the next 30 years.

Project Justification

It is necessary to look at the Ahobilam Vaikunta Megaproject in the context of an expanding Indian Economy.

The Indian Economy is expected to Triple in size from US $ 2.5 Trillion in 2018 to US $ 7.5 Trillion by 2030 - 35.

Given this reference frame and the fact that in 2017, India earned US $ 230 Billion or Rs 15.24 Lakh Crores from Tourism ( 9.4 % of GDP ), it does make sense to think in terms of a Megaproject which will help revive India's lost Heritage and ancient science that was lost over a 1000 years due to repeated invasions and foreign conquest.

There are also huge Economic benefits that will accrue by executing the Megaproject. Restoring Temples across India in my view, as is planned under the Megaproject, could earn an additional US $ 20 Billion each year ... from a growth in Tourism as Hampi, Ajanta -Ellora and the Elephanta complexes are restored over the next 15 years.

Secondly, the economic benefits also include a massive increase in Exports of not just better hand crafted objects ... but entire projects as countries around the the world would perhaps like Indian artisans to help them restore lost monuments. In my view therefore ... Traditional Indian Art Firms by 2035 could earn an additional US $ 10 Billion each year through the construction of Artistic projects around the world. India has had its own Michelangelos and Da Vincis but these masters have been lost in antiquity.

When a large $ 30 Billion project of the class of Ahobilam Vaikunta is conceived and executed, we will slowly draw out the Michelangelos and Da Vincis who currently find no opportunity to express themselves.

The various projects under the Ahobilam Vaikunta plan are the largest in their class globally. There is therefore a Robust business case for spending US $ 30 Billion over the next 30 - 50 years on the Ahobila Supersite and another US $ 1 Billion at Hampi to totally restore the Capital of the Vijayanagara Empire which was destroyed by invaders. This kind of investment will also happen at Ellora and Elephanta to restore these sites.

The Ahobilam Mega University on the lines of the Nalanda University that was destroyed in the early 13th century also is justified as Universities create huge value in terms of the economic value of work produced by its alumni. It may interest the reader to note that the Alumni of Stanford University on which this project will be modeled ... create an astounding US $ 3 Trillion in Value each year . We have on a conservative basis therefore assumed that the Ahobilam University by 2050 would create US $ 1 Trillion of economic value. The US $ 20 Billion that will be spent to build this unique institution is therefore justified.

Worlds Largest Statues of Vishnu

The Ahobilam Location has critical strategic significance for the Hindus. It is at this location that Lord Vishnu emerged from a Pillar in the Sat Yug ( Nearly 6 Million years ago ) in his Narasimha ( half man, half lion ) Avatar.

The Ahobilam site is therefore of even greater importance than Tirupati which received 21 Million visitors in 2016.

The Ahobilam Vaikunta Megaproject has been designed as an All India project and in this respect it is different in concept from Tirupati which mostly receives devotees from South India. My view is that Ahobilam will receive nearly 30 Million visitors each year especially after the Two Statues of Vishnu are completed.

The site will host the following two giant statues of the blessed Lord Vishnu :

1. The Reclining Mahavishnu ... 300 Mts length X 120 Mts tall statue in Metal
2. The Jwala Narasimha ... 120 Mts Tall X 90 Mts wide statue in Metal

In addition the 9 Avatars of the blessed Lord will be played out in Laser Light shows every night to captivate devotees who will come from all over India and the World to see what will be the worlds largest Laser Light show.

An Expanding Indian Economy

As the Indian economy expands from US $ 2.5 Trillion to US $ 7.5 Trillion we will make huge investments in Education, Healthcare and Urban Infrastructure besides Transport and Defence.

The Indian Banking sector is likely to be at the forefront of this New Investment binge as we overcome the problem of crony capitalism that has plagued the banking sector. A new set of visionary leaders are likely to emerge in India's Banking sector over the next decade to make this possible. This is not a dream, this is reality as the reforms and safeguards that have been put in place within the Banking sector will more align the leadership of our banks with national goals.

India will invest nearly US $ 300 Billion in Education and another US $ 500 Billion in Healthcare over the next 10 - 15 years. Megaprojects are therefore , in my view likely to be the New Normal for India over the next decade.

India is just emerging from years of Misrule to become and remain the worlds fastest growing economy for the next 20 years. The next 2 decades are therefore likely to be Indian decades and Every Business person from around the world should look at India and should have a presence here.

Comments on the Ahobilam Megaproject plan are most welcome.

Ashish Puntambekar