In a momentous occasion, Odisha Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the grand ‘Srimandir Parikrama’ project, an Rs 800-crore initiative aimed at enhancing amenities for devotees around the sacred Jagannath Temple in Puri. The inauguration ceremony witnessed the august presence of Gajapati Maharaja of Puri Divyasingha Deb and representatives from approximately 90 temples, including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, and the Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal.
The heritage corridor, spanning 75 meters in width, encircles the temple and features a green buffer zone, a reception area catering to 6,000 devotees, the Jagannath Ballav pilgrim center, multi-level car parking, a dedicated pedestrian path, and public convenience zones. Initially announced in December 2019, the project faced delays due to the pandemic and draft by-laws issued by the National Monuments Authority (NMA) in January 2021, restricting construction within the temple’s 100-meter periphery. The Chief Minister’s intervention led to the withdrawal of these by-laws.
In June of the previous year, the Supreme Court dismissed two PILs challenging the renovation project, dismissing them as “frivolous litigation.” Ahead of the inauguration, the BJD government conducted statewide promotion campaigns, declaring a holiday for the event and setting up screens in panchayats and block headquarters to telecast the proceedings. Special buses were arranged from different parts of the state to facilitate devotees’ participation in the event. Expressing gratitude for the dedicated efforts in devotion to Lord Shri Jagannath, Chief Minister Patnaik acknowledged the tireless work of many individuals in making the project a reality. He emphasized the significance of the project as a symbol of faith for every orthodox and devotee, encapsulating the spirit of devotion to Lord Jagannath. Jai Jagannath!
amfnews