Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced a significant development for Puri on the occasion of Lord Jagannath’s holy Rath Yatra. The state government has decided to upgrade Puri into a municipal corporation, considering the large influx of devotees and the city’s growing population.
As part of this initiative, a world-class Shree Jagannath Museum, library, and research centre will be established in Puri. The municipal corporation will include around 10 adjacent Gram Panchayats, expanding the city’s size and providing enhanced facilities for residents and tourists.
With this upgrade, Puri joins Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, and Rourkela as one of the municipal corporations in Odisha. The move aims to improve infrastructure and services in the spiritual city, catering to the needs of lakhs of devotees who visit Puri throughout the year.
The Chief Minister said, “Puri will no longer be limited to the municipality areas. Its popularity will increase. Shree Jagannath culture, legends, and history will be propagated. Odia heritage will be emphasized. The state government has set a goal to provide convenience to the citizens, provide various services, and bring about a huge positive change through the discussion of tourists.”
Majhi said, “Now the Rath Yatra celebration is underway in the holy city of Puri. Mahaprabhu has already given orders called Ajnamala for the Bahuda Yatra. Everyone is providing their services under the instructions of Lord Jagannath in a smooth and safe manner. Puri Jagannath Dham is unique among all the religious places in India. Here, devotees, irrespective of caste, religion, color, or community, become one. During this holy festival that lasts for nine days, all the devotees walking in large numbers are servants.” The CM termed himself as an ordinary devotee among these innumerable Jagannath lovers.
“As the Chief Minister of the state, one of the major responsibilities entrusted to me by the people of the state is to provide quality basic amenities to the people of Puri along with the lakhs of devotees who come to Puri. I have personally felt that, for some reason or the other, the current Puri municipality has not been able to fulfill the expectations and aspirations of both the devotees and the city residents,” the Chief Minister said.
To achieve this goal, reforms will have to be brought in the local self-government system. A new structure is needed to supervise, restructure, and maintain various developmental works. In order to provide quality amenities to the devotees and tourists who come to the city throughout the year with the increasing population, our government has decided to convert the town into a municipal corporation. With this, about seven to eight Gram Panchayats of Puri Sadar and Brahmagiri blocks will be included, so that the people of these panchayats can get city-like facilities. All the processes related to this will be started from tomorrow.
“Our government is committed to developing Puri as the best religious and tourist destination in the country. For this, it is necessary to build and maintain many new projects. The government has set a target to make Puri a major religious and tourist destination in the country by 2036.”
