Bhubaneswar: Repair and restoration work of the Ratna Bhandar, the treasury of Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri is expected to be completed before March, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan announced on Tuesday.
The completion of these repairs will clear the way for inventorying and counting the ornaments stored within the vault.
Currently, the repair work is temporarily on hold to accommodate rituals linked to the Makar Sankranti festival, ensuring that the sanctity of temple activities remains undisturbed. The restoration work is scheduled to resume on January 17.
Law Minister Harichandan expressed optimism about the progress, noting that valuables currently stored outside the Ratna Bhandar will be moved back inside once repairs are completed. This will set the stage for initiating the inventory process.
“We have temporarily halted the repair work for three days to allow uninterrupted rituals during Makar Sankranti. Restoration will resume on January 17,” the Minister said.
He added, “The ASI team has made substantial progress, and we are confident that the work will be completed well before the target date. Afterward, we will proceed with the inventory and counting of the ornaments.”
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), entrusted with the restoration, had initially estimated a three-month timeline for the repairs. However, efforts are being made to expedite the process and finish ahead of schedule.
