AHMEDABAD: It rained money at the inaugural meeting of Vishv Umiya Foundation (VUF) on Sunday when the Patidar community pledged Rs 150 crore in a matter of three hours – averaging about Rs 84 lakh a minute.

The moolah was pledged for construction of Vishva Umiyadham, a temple-cum-community complex spread over 40 acre land on Jaspur road near Vaishnodevi circle on SG Road. The project is expected to be completed by 2024.

The Rs 1,000-crore project will have a temple dedicated to goddess Umiya Mata, revered as kuldevi by Kadva Patidars, one of the two major sub-castes of the Patidar community. The temple complex would house a hospital and healthcare facilities, sports and cultural complex, education institute and hostels for boys and girls among other facilities in its vicinity.

"The VUF has raised Rs 100 crore for the project so far. We clocked the fastest additional pledge of Rs 150 crore on Sunday which could be one the biggest such drives for a social cause," said project coordinator CK Patel, a BJP leader who owns motels in the US.

Of this, the lion's share of Rs 51 crore was committed by the Mumbai-based Patel family which hails from Nadasa, a village near Mehsana .

Realtor brothers Mangal (93) and Naran Patel (88) have launched projects in Walkeshwar , Goregaon and Dadar. The family members also claim to have donated land for the Umiya Mata temple at Goregaon seven years ago.

“Inspiration to donate comes from the Goddess herself. The proposed centre promises to be a community hub for the entire community,” he said. The brothers had also donated Rs 71 lakh for Umiya Dham established at Haridwar .

The central office of VUF was formally thrown open by Gujarat deputy CM Nitin Patel on Sunday. RP Patel, project convener, said 250-odd trustees have pledged Rs 25 lakh or more for the project so far. “The initial response is encouraging. More meetings and fundraising drives would take place in the future,” he said.

