Puri Srimandir Ratna Bhandar repair work to be completed after Rath Yatra

The much-awaited restoration work of the Ratna Bhandar — the treasure trove of the sacred Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri — will remain suspended till June 27 to make way for a focused final phase of conservation. This update comes following a key review meeting on the repair works, where the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Arabinda Padhee on Saturday shared a detailed progress report.

Addressing the media, the Chief Administrator revealed that 193 hours and 5 minutes of work have been completed so far over four months. He further confirmed that repair work inside the inner or Bhitar Ratna Bhandar is nearly complete, with only some remaining stonework and reinforcement tasks left to be done, including granite flooring.

Highlighting key technical updates, he informed that five stainless steel beams will be installed in the outer Ratna Bhandar to strengthen its structural integrity. From June 28 to July 6, substantial progress is expected to be made, especially as the deities will not be present inside the temple during Rath Yatra period, allowing the conservation teams, mostly the ASI officials, to work with fewer restrictions.

“Our goal is to complete the repair and restoration work of the Ratna Bhandar post the Rath Yatra,” he stated, adding that laser scanning and GPS survey were done, and loose boulders are being changed.

The ASI officials informed that around 277 Khandalite stones have been installed, including 148 stones inside Bhitar Ratna Bhandar.  There are some cracks, hence work is being done in a scientific manner and brick-by-brick, he said.

What Law Minister Says…

Only about 50 to 60 hours of additional work remain for the outer treasury chamber, the Law Minister, Prithviraj Harichandan, stated today.

The minister further shared a concerning insight: the inner Ratna Bhandar was in a severely dilapidated condition, with stones at risk of falling, indicating a potentially dangerous environment. 

“We did not have the luxury of time. Security and preservation were our top priorities, and the work was carried out under extreme caution and expert supervision,” he noted.

As the final phase of this delicate restoration approaches, authorities remain hopeful that the structural safety of the historic treasury will be fully secured, ensuring that it can safely house the temple’s invaluable ornaments and offerings for years to come.