1. Odisha plans to attract 10,000 daily visitors for a month to the Rs 800-crore Shree Mandira Parikrama Project inauguration at Puri’s Jagannath Temple on January 17.
2. District collectors receive directives for the smooth movement of devotees from every panchayat and civic body, with special funds allocated for the purpose.
3. The Parikrama Project is a heritage corridor encircling Jagannath Temple, aiming to enhance the experience for devotees and ensure the temple’s security.
Bhubaneswar, Jan 16: The Odisha government is set to mobilize approximately 10,000 people every day for a month to visit the Shree Mandira Parikrama Project—a Rs 800-crore heritage corridor encircling Puri’s renowned Jagannath Temple, scheduled to be inaugurated on January 17.
The government, led by Naveen Patnaik, has issued directives to district collectors to facilitate the smooth movement of devotees from every panchayat and civic body to Puri starting January 22. Special funds have been allocated for this purpose.
Highlighting the importance of ensuring the seamless arrival of devotees, panchayati raj secretary S K Lohani stated in a letter to the collectors, “Smooth movement of devotees from your district to Puri for witnessing the Shree Mandira Parikrama Prakalpa is the priority, as emphasized by the Chief Secretary via videoconferencing on January 12.”
District collectors are tasked with requisitioning an adequate number of buses for devotees’ transportation, and detailed plans have been outlined at transit camps to ensure their comfortable stay.
Each district will appoint a nodal officer for overall coordination, and control rooms will be set up for monitoring.
Described as a massive infrastructure endeavor around the Jagannath Temple, the Parikrama project, a 75-meter free passage along the outer walls (Meghanada Pacheri) of the shrine, aims to enhance temple security and provide basic civic amenities to devotees.
The project, developed with an investment of Rs 800 crore, is poised to be a historical milestone for Odisha.
While the government is enthusiastic about the inauguration, critics from the Opposition have labelled it an attempt to garner support for the ruling BJD, accusing the expenditure of state funds for political gains.
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Approximately Rs 20 crore has been allocated for mobilizing devotees from villages to Puri.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has orchestrated extensive arrangements for the inauguration on January 17, just five days ahead of the consecration ceremony for the Ayodhya Ram temple. Senior government officers are on-site in Puri, overseeing preparations.
Odisha’s Director-General of Police (in-charge) Arun Kumar Sarangi disclosed that Puri has been enveloped in a security blanket, with the deployment of around 80 platoons (over 3,000 personnel) for the grand opening ceremony.
On Monday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged people to dedicate themselves to the devotion of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, emphasizing the significance of the day for the Odia community.
He also encouraged people to participate in the January 17 celebrations by lighting diyas, reciting bhajans and kirtans, and blowing conches in their ways.
