Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday inaugurated the much-awaited SAMALEI project in Sambalpur on Saturday.
The government planned the SAMALEI (Samaleswari Temple Area Management and Local Economic Initiative) to develop the temple precinct to provide a unique experience to devotees.
The project includes peripheral development of the shrine, construction of a heritage corridor, amenities for pilgrims, improved access to the temple, and development of the Mahanadi riverfront.
“People of Odisha will always remember those who volunteered to forego their lands for the SAMALEI project. The blessings of Maa Samaleswari always remain with the people of the state,” said Patnaik in Sambalpur.
The project has been completed in record time despite Covid outbreak, Patnaik said.
The project which includes the beautification and development of the Maa Samaleswari temple, has been undertaken at a cost of Rs 200 crore. The project was carried out over an area of around 40 acres.
The major objectives of the SAMALEI Plan are to: celebrate the grandeur of Maa Samaleswari temple; enhance devotees’s experiences; boost the tourism-based economy of Sambalpur and Odisha; and develop other projects around the temple to facilitate economic opportunities for locals.
All buildings and heritage gates have been designed in Kalingan architecture. Khondalite stones have been used for paving and cladding. 20 shops and households have been acquired. 250 families have been rehabilitated from the Ghungutipada Slum Area, according to the state government.
A dedicated vending zone with over 60 shops, a QMS managing pilgrim flow, and shoe storage, bhog shops, and public toilets are parts of the project. Cloakrooms, prasad halls, and first-aid rooms will also add to pilgrims’ comfort.
Besides, Mission Shakti cafes run by women’s groups, baby care rooms, and accessible public toilets throughout the complex have been included in the project for the tourist amenities. Information centers and well-designed clock towers with water tanks add convenience and grandeur.
The redevelopment of Mahanadi riverfront, Aarati platform will give devotees stunning views. Parking lot, foot overbridge with lifts will also address public inconveniences.
