Puri: As the nation gears up for the pran pratishtha at the Ram temple in Ayodhya Monday, another temple has undergone a major makeover. The Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri now has a 75-metre-wide heritage corridor that was inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on 17 January.
The heritage corridor, Shree Mandir Parikrama Prakalpa (SMPP) includes a green buffer zone, a welcome space that can accommodate 6,000 worshippers, the Jagannath Ballav pilgrim centre, multi-level parking and a designated path for pedestrians, among other facilities.
The project was announced in December 2019 but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic and a legal obstacle in January 2021, when the National Monuments Authority (NMA) issued draft by-laws that prohibited any construction within 100 metres of the temple. The chief minister intervened and requested the NMA to withdraw the by-laws, clearing the way for the project to resume, according to media reports.
It cost Rs 800 crore, of which Rs 500 crore was spent on the rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) of the residents and vendors who were displaced by the project, and Rs 300 crore on the construction of the corridor., according to a government statement.
When ThePrint visited the temple town on 18 January, people were seen walking on the big road outside the temple. By noon, many gathered in queues and waited for the darshan as “Jai Jaggannath, Jai Jagganath,” slogans filled the air.
“Yesterday, (17 January) it was not that crowded, but now it will be like this for some days. The footfall has increased after COVID-19. Now, after the inauguration of the heritage corridor, people are happy and excited about the view and safety,” said one security guard, who was managing the crowd at the temple gate.
Debasis Sahu, a 43-year-old teacher from Konark, who visited the temple for the 12th time, told ThePrint in the middle of his parikrama, “Earlier, it used to get so crowded with the vendors, hotels and houses. One couldn’t even see the walls of the temple. But now it is so spacious and beautiful. So many facilities are also being built by the government. This is very good.”
The launch day was designated a holiday, and the state government had also planned a massive outreach campaign on 17 January, sending out arpan raths (chariots of offering) to every village in Odisha and inviting people to participate in the SMPP.
The government also set up big screens in gram panchayats and block headquarters to stream the inauguration event live and arranged buses to transport people from the villages to Puri for the occasion. It had also reportedly invited the religious heads of 1,000 temples in India and Nepal, along with the four Shankaracharyas, for the inauguration.
Patnaik dedicated the project to the devotees, and in his address to mediapersons said, “Many people have dedicated and worked hard for this project in devotion to Lord Shri Jagannath. The Odia people will never forget the endless sacrifice of the Puri people in particular. It is the project of our Lord, the symbol of the faith of every orthodox, every devotee. Jai Jagannath.”
New features of the temple
According to the government statement, there are nine restrooms, cloakrooms, drinking water taps, information-cum-donation kiosks, and shade and rest pavilions in the 10-metre public convenience zone that is 40 metres from the temple’s boundaries.
A 4.5-metre service lane is available for use by service trucks and corridor maintenance, while an additional 4.5-metre-wide lane is set aside for shuttle-cum-emergency use in the event of any type of emergency or calamity.
A direct path from the multi-level parking within the Jagannath Ballav pilgrim complex to Dolabedi (the Shree Mandir Parikrama site) is now possible, thanks to the construction of a 630-metre-long road (Shree Danda) that cost Rs 90 crore, said the government statement.
To direct tourists to the multi-level car parking inside the Jagannath Ballav pilgrim centre in the town from the Puri NH bypass, a 2.3 km-long 4-lane Shree Setu (trumpet bridge) was built, which cost Rs 200 crore.
As pilgrims approach Puri via Shree Setu, a gate has been erected to greet them.
Project gives a new look to the city
The SMPP has also given a new look to the city of Puri. The heritage corridor has been built into a large open space, as many of the temple festivals, including the Rath Yatra, begin from here.
The project also involved the redevelopment of the existing Matha temples within the heritage corridor and the rehabilitation and resettlement of the residents and vendors who were displaced by the project.
A government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told ThePrint, “Sam dam dand bhed (by any means), the government used all of it. Most people were convinced and took the money. There were a few who created some problems but later they came on board.”
A total of 440 shops were distributed to the evicted shopkeepers in November 2023. The shops were located in three market complexes: Mahodadhi Market Complex; Mochisahi and Market Complex Daitapadasahi, Badadadada; and Multi-Level Car Parking-cum-Market Complex on Jail Road Puri, according to the government statement.
“There were hotels, lodges, and shops all around the temple. So the first thing was to remove all those. For the people to have good darshan, it was also important for the safety of the temple as two-story buildings were there,” Puri Collector Samarth Verma told reporters.
“The aim was to create a security corridor around the temple. People were convinced with the R&R packaging,” he added.
Over a month, the government of Odisha plans to encourage about 10,000 individuals to visit the project.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)