Puri (SunstarTV Bureau): Finally the temple administration granted permission to the ambitious project for Puri Jagannath temple on Srimandir Heritage Corridor that envisages a complete makeover of the shrine surroundings and development of amenities for the pilgrims.
On Monday, a meeting was conducted by the committee chairperson Gajapati Maharaj Divya Singha Deb, and further the proposed architectural design of the project has been approved.
As per the draft, 55 metre stretch of the 75-metre corridor will be declared no parking and no vehicle movement zone. Road will be constructed from the zone and battery-run vehicles will be introduced on the stretch for the devotees to commute to the shrine. The services will be free of cost for the pilgrims.
A Sri Jagannath reception centre with a capacity of 6,000 devotees will be built in an open space for queue management. Besides, luggage scanning system, main cloakroom for keeping belongings, drinking water facilities, washrooms, places for washing hands and feet are some of the other features of the heritage corridor.
Meanwhile it has decided for a book shop which will come up at the reception centre and provide souvenirs and other books and journals on Jagannath culture to the devotees.
Similarly, the project will lay stress on amenities like mini cloakroom, shelter pavilion, ATM kiosk, Bhajan and sanskruti Mandap, separate toilets for servitors and devotees, police service centre, information centre and donation kiosk.
Notably, special attention will be given to the Badachhata Mutt and Chhauni mutt on both sides of the Singhadwar during their construction. The temple authorities will take up the matter with the National Monument Authority, Puri-Konark Development Authority and State government seeking a go-ahead. The project work will begin from June, he added.
