Bhubaneswar: Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath and one of India’s most sacred pilgrimage destinations, is set for a major transformation while retaining its cultural and spiritual essence.
A high-level review meeting was held today under the joint chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and Law, Works, and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan to chart the way forward for making Puri a world-class heritage city.
Deputy CM Pravati Parida said that Puri and the Shree Jagannath Temple are revered worldwide and visiting this holy city is a cherished dream for countless devotees. She stressed the need for coordinated efforts from both the government and the public to make Puri vibrant, beautiful, and spiritually enriching. She urged officials to expedite ongoing projects to uplift the city and district.
Minister Prithviraj Harichandan highlighted that while challenges are inevitable in development work, they can be overcome with determination and proper planning. He directed officials to ensure timely completion of projects through meticulous planning and execution.
The review focused on the progress of several flagship initiatives, including:
- Beautification of the Shree Gundicha Temple
- Upgradation of Pramod Udyan.
- Land acquisition for Shree Mandir Adarsh Gurukulam.
- The Sevayat Housing Project.
- Construction of a world-class Raghunandan Library and Shree Jagannath Research Centre.
- Establishment of a Bhakta Niwas at the old police station site.
- Conservation and development of Atharnala and other heritage structures.
Officials also reviewed proposals to integrate Odisha’s traditional architectural style into new infrastructure projects, remove hazardous structures around Shri Mandir, incorporate modern equipment in city infrastructure, adhere strictly to National Heritage Authority guidelines, and obtain approvals from the Puri-Konark Development Authority before execution.
The meeting was attended by Shree Jagannath Temple Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee, Works Department Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, Puri District Collector Divyajyoti Parida, OBCC Managing Director Sameer Hota, EIC (Civil) Satyabrata Behera, Works Department Advisor Jayakrishna Das, along with senior departmental officials.
