1. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is set to inaugurate the Rs 800 crore Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa (Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor) in Puri.
2. The town is adorned with flowers, lights, and graffiti for the occasion.
3. Security measures are stringent in the holy town, with 90 platoons (1 platoon comprising 30 personnel) of police force deployed.
Bhubaneswar, Jan 17: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is set to inaugurate the Rs 800 crore Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa (Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor) in Puri. The inauguration will take place on Wednesday, and the town is adorned with flowers, lights, and graffiti for the occasion.
The Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa project includes various amenities such as parking areas, Shree Setu (a bridge), Shree Danda (a road), pilgrimage center, restroom facilities, cloakrooms, toilets, and more to enhance the pilgrim experience around the Jagannath Temple.
Naveen Patnaik is expected to arrive at 1 pm and unveil the much-anticipated project at 1.30 pm. Devotees from different parts of Odisha and the country have gathered for the inaugural ceremony. The Chief Minister will also release documentary videos on the project during the event.
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As the three-day yagna continues, Gajapati Maharaj of Puri Divyasingha Deb will perform the ‘purnahuti’ in the ‘havan’ between 1.30 pm to 2 pm. Patnaik will dedicate the project to devotees as the yagna concludes.
Following this, priests, sadhus, and other delegates, along with the Chief Minister, will go around the Parikrama around the temple between 2 pm to 2.30 pm.
Sadhus from 90 shrines and religious institutions across the country have already arrived in Puri for the event. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator, Ranjan Kumar Das, mentioned that preparations have been made for their smooth stay, including a special auditorium with large digital screens for 900 guests.
Security measures are stringent in the holy town, with 90 platoons (1 platoon comprising 30 personnel) of police force deployed. CCTV surveillance, bomb disposal teams, anti-sabotage teams, and dog squads are part of the security arrangements to ensure the safety of the area, as confirmed by DGP Arun Kumar Sarangi.
The state government has declared Wednesday a public holiday to facilitate people’s participation in the inauguration.
Government offices, schools, and colleges across the state will remain closed, while private offices and institutions are expected to livestream the event for their employees and students.
