Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday approved an amount of Rs 42 crore for the development and renovation of Sarala Temple at Jhankada in Jagatsinghpur district.
Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian had toured the place and discussed about the modernisation plans with local residents, servitors and district administration. A master plan was developed on these lines which was approved by the CM today.
The temple and its peripheral development has been taken up under 5-T Integrated Development of Heritage and Monuments and Tourists Destination programme.
The Works Department presented the project details before the CM. In the first phase of the project Rs 42 crore will be spent. Under this project, all sub-shrines on premises of Sarala temple will be developed.
Four main gates in as many directions will be installed apart from construction of kitchen, anand bazar, godown, and a new Dola Altar, under this programme. Several other places will be renovated on the premises of the temple.
For the convenience of devotees, Bhoga Mandap, Deepa Mandap, a shoe stand, police control room, and temple office will be built. A bronze idol of Adikabi Sarala Das will be installed in the temple compound near the banyan tree adjacent to ‘Nanda Deula’, reports stated.
In the second phase of the project, the road connecting the main road to the temple will be widened. The programme today was coordinated by Pandian. Among others, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, Works Secretary Vir Vikram Yadav, and senior officials were present.
