Puri Srimandir Ratna Bhandar repair work to be completed by January 31: Odisha Law Minister

The repair work of Puri SrimandirRatna Bhandar will commence in a day or two and be completed by January 31, informed Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Sunday.

Speaking to the media, Harichandan said, “We are hopeful that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will start the repair and restoration work in a day or two. As per the planned schedule, the repair, inventory and audit of the gold and other valuable jewellery will be completed by January 31.”

“The ASI will submit the work schedule today and repair work will start soon. The SJTA’s chief administrator has also handed over the permission letter to the ASI to carry out the repair and restoration work immediately,” he added.

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Once the repair work of the treasure trove of the 12th-century shrine is complete, the jewellery will be shifted from the temporary storage to its original place. Subsequently, an inventory and audit will be conducted securely, the Law Minister informed.

Meanwhile, the ground penetrating radar (GPR)-GPS survey report clearly shows that there are no hidden chambers. Although there was speculation about the presence of metal items, the Law Minister, Prithviraj Harichandan clarified that there is nothing to that sort of. 

Read More: Puri Srimandir Ratna Bhandar repair work soon, inventory process to be completed by January 2025: Law Minister

With the GPS report confirming that there are no hidden compartments or metal items inside the Ratna Bhandar, the main focus now lies on the structural repair, said ASI Superintendent DB Gadnayak. 

“There is no secret chamber inside the Ratna Bhandar. We have identified the cracks and they will be repaired,” Gadnayak said.