The Director General of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), V Vidyavathi, on Monday reviewed the Heritage Corridor (Srimandir Parikrama) project of Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri and several projects undertaken by the ASI in and around the Lord Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar.
After taking darshan of the holy Trinity, Vidyavathi attended a meeting held at the office of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). Chief administrator of SJTA, Krishan Kumar briefed the ASI DG about the Parikrama project.
After the meeting, Kumar said the construction work of the project will gain momentum following a go ahead by the ASI.
“The Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee and ASI are working together for the protection and preservation of the Srimandir. We will work towards the safety of the pilgrims and facilities to servitors. These works will be carried out with mutual efforts. In the meeting, all the issues relating to the Parikrama Project were discussed,” said Kumar.
Later, Vidyavathi also visited the Lord Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar to review the progress of various projects undertaken by the ASI. Chief administrator of SJTA Krishan Kumar, who is also secretary of Works department, ASI’s Odisha head Arun Mallick and a few other officials accompanied her.
Billed as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s dream project, the Parikrama Project- a 75-metre corridor around Srimandir- will give tourists and pilgrims an unobstructed view of the magnificent temple. This ambitious project will be completed within one and a half years time frame at a project cost of Rs 331.28 crore and it will be carried out by Tata Projects.
Notably, Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb had laid the foundation stone for the project in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on November 24 last year.