The Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will implement several measures to manage crowds and enhance accessibility, including separate barricades for general and differently-abled devotees. These initiatives aim to provide a seamless and inclusive experience for all visitors to the 12th-century shrine. Construction work will begin after the completion of the holy month of Kartik. This decision was made during a meeting of the Srimandir’s Chhattisa Nijog on October 8.
Arabinda Padhee, chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), announced that ramps and barricades will soon be installed at Puri Srimandir to facilitate smooth darshan for devotees.
Under the Augmentation of Basic Amenities & Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme, the Odisha Bridge & Construction Corporation (OBCC), a wing of the Works Department, has proposed a dedicated barricading system near the Natya Mandap to ensure the smooth movement of devotees.
Detailing the plan, SJTA chief Padhee stated, “A collapsible wooden barricading system will be established for orderly darshan at the Srimandir. There will be separate lines for men, women, children, elderly individuals, and differently-abled devotees.”
This barricading system will include a ramp that allows devotees to view the Bhagwan Jagannath, Balbhadra and Devi Subhadra on Ratna Simhasan from various points in the Natya Mandap, including Garuda Stamba.
Padhee further confirmed that devotees will enter through ‘Sata Pahacha’ and exit via ‘Ghanti Dwara.’
Padhee assured that OBCC will execute the project in consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India, ensuring that the architectural integrity and structural safety of the temples are maintained
“We have already received the prototypes. Following the completion of the tender process, work will commence without disrupting the temple’s daily rituals. Input will be gathered from the servitors to ensure that rituals are not affected by the construction,” said Puri Collector and Deputy Chief Administrator of SJTA Siddharth Shankar Swain.
“A tender will soon be issued to finalise the agency responsible for carrying out the work,” Swain added.
The temple administration plans to introduce the new system after the conclusion of the holy month of Karthik. A large number of women devotees will observe Kartik Brat and offer prayers at the temple starting from October 14.
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