New ramp facility at Puri Srimandir aimed at enhancing accessibility for all devotees

Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has announced plans to build a six-lane ramp facility at Puri Srimandir to facilitate easier access for senior citizens and differently-abled devotees wishing to have darshan of the Holy Trinity.

This decision was made public on Thursday following discussions between temple officials and representatives from the Odisha Bridge & Construction Corporation (OBCC).

Arabinda Padhee, the Chief Administrator of SJTA, recently evaluated the proposed darshan facilities at the Nata Mandap of the Srimandir, considering the suggestions from the Management Committee and the Chhatisha Nijog. The SJTA has requested that the OBCC expedite the project's completion in coordination with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the temple's technical committee.

The OBCC has also been assigned the broader task of developing a temple heritage corridor, which will feature a 75-meter-wide corridor around the Meghanada Pacheri, a multi-level car parking area connected to the National Highway via Shree Setu, enhanced access to the Jagannath Ballav Pilgrim Centre with a new 2.3 km four-lane road bridge, as well as a welcome gate and scenic viewpoints.