Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today approved a master plan for the peripheral development of Kantilo Nila Madhaba peeth.
A sum of Rs 100 crore will be spent on the project which will be completed within 18 months. The project will be executed under the Integrated Heritage & Monuments Development Programme, said an official press release.
The Chief Minister has sought the cooperation of the local people and sevayats (servitors of the shrine) for the successful execution of the project.
The master plan was approved by the Chief Minister at a high-level meeting on development of Nila Madhaba shrine chaired by him.
Nila Madhaba shrine has a deep relationship with Jagannath culture. It is believed that Mahaprabhu was worshipped as Nilamani by Sabara king Biswabasu at the Nila Madhaba shrine on the Brahmadri hills. Every day thousands of devotees visit the shrine to have a darshan of the Mahaprabhu’s primitive image. The mighty and majestic Mahanadi flowing on the north of Brahmadri hills is mesmerising. The place is also a major attraction for tourists.
Well planned development of this shrine apart from being beneficial for devotees and tourists will be of help to the economic development of the area. 
On Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s direction, Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian had visited Nila Madhaba shrine last week and had held detailed discussions with the sevayats, local people and district administration on the development plan and had ordered for preparation of a master plan accordingly.
In the master plan emphasis has been laid mainly on the renovation of the temple, disciplined and smooth darshan for devotees, renovation of the Chandan puskarini, beautification, development of roads, garden, parking, protection of Mahanadi embankment, beautification of the riverbank, plantation of shade-giving trees, etc.
In addition to that development of the four entrances on east, west, north and south.
To facilitate darshan by the elderly and physically disabled lift and sky bridge facilities will be developed at the western entrance.
The temple premises and its periphery will be paved with khondolite stone and the Lord’s garden will be developed.
Further, the Rasbihari Mandap, Raghunath Mutt and Bata Mangala temple will be developed.
A cloakroom for keeping belongings of visitors and facilities for washing of feet by devotees will be constructed.
The roads for entry into the temple from the eastern and western sides will be widened. While the road on the eastern side will be widened to 9 meters and the road on the western side will be widened to 12 meters.
A 400-meter protective wall will be constructed to protect the temple from erosion by the river Mahanadi.
The project will require a total of 2 acres of land. Land acquisition by the district administration will be carried out as per the rehabilitation and resettlement policy of the government.
The project will be executed by the Works department. However, construction of the protective wall will be done by the Water Resources Department.
Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian moderated the programme. Principal Secretary Works Vir Vikram Yadav made a presentation on the project.
Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, Development Commissioner PK Jena, Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg and Nayagarh Collector among others.
