SJTA Urges OBCC to Complete Srimandir Parikrama Project; Key Developments Announced

Puri, – The Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has urged the Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation (OBCC) to expedite the completion of the Srimandir Parikrama Project. This comes after a review meeting chaired by Gajapati Divya Singh Deb and led by SJTA Chief Administrator, Arabind Padhee, following his visit to the site on Thursday.

During the visit, Padhee, accompanied by senior servitors of the temple, assessed the progress of various ongoing works at the Srimandir Parikrama. He emphasized the need for swift action to ensure the timely completion of the project.

The demolished Raghunandan Library, Padhee revealed, will be reconstructed once approval from the state government is obtained. The new library is set to be a unique facility in the country, reflecting the temple’s cultural significance.

To ease overcrowding at Anand Bazaar, the Mahaprasad market, a large dining facility will be constructed near the temple. This will enable devotees who purchase Mahaprasad to enjoy the facility comfortably.

As part of the Srimandir Parikrama, several platforms have been built for religious discourses, Gyan Yajna, Bhakti Yajna, and cultural programs focused on Lord Jagannath. The district collector, in coordination with relevant stakeholders, will establish guidelines for the use of these platforms.

Additionally, the SJTA has announced the relocation of the temple office to Narendra Mahalla and Bagadia Dharamshala, marking another step in the overall temple development plans.

Padhee also discussed the ongoing Ratna Bhandar conservation work with the Director of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). ASI experts are working on repairing and conserving the structure, with significant damage uncovered after the removal of plaster from the outer walls. These issues will be addressed soon.

Work on the development of Jagannath Ballav, the deities’ pleasure garden, continues, and the construction of a new parking facility is nearing completion. Furthermore, repairs to the kitchen of the Gundicha Temple, the birthplace of Lord Jagannath, are set to begin after the 2025 Rath Yatra.

Padhee concluded by stating that major decisions for the temple’s future would be taken once the managing committee is formed.