Even though few days have been left for the world-famous Rath Yatra to be observed in Puri, the uncompleted work of Puri Heritage Corridor Project has left the devotees, servitors and the members of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) committee in a tizzy.
After reviewing the work many times on ground zero, the State government has given several promises to complete the work well before Rath Yatra 2023. However, considering the present situation, intellectuals and devotees have put a question mark on the intention of the government.
Road, drainage, electric system, and beautification work under the project is yet to be completed. The administration is looking desperate to finish the work in a hurried manner. With half-built construction work, machines and debris lying scattered all-around Srimandir, doubts have been raised over the smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings this year.
The administration has again promised to complete the work before June 20. However, considering the ground situation, several servitors and members of SJTA committee believe that it will not be possible to complete the work within the announced time period.
Moreover, they have expressed their resentment over the half-built construction work and blatant change in the original design of the project.
As per the servitors, there will be a huge rush of devotees around the temple during Rath Yatra, Suna Besha, and Niladri Bije. But considering the half-built project and the debris piled all around, devotees will face a lot of hardships to get a glimpse of the deities during the festivals.
Moreover, half-built construction work has been halted for a long time at Balisahi, Baselisahi, Gadanti Chhaka and Dakhina Dwara roads that are leading to Srimandir. Residents of the area are going through lots of difficulties.
Though a certain deadline has been given to OBCC and Tata to complete the outer access road construction work before Rath Yatra 2023, it seems they will not be able to meet the deadline due to sluggish progress.
Meanwhile, some members of SJTA committee have alleged that the original design of the project was earlier approved by the members. But frequent changes have been made in the design and the members are in the dark about the development.
“The original designing has been changed many times. Despite our repeated complaints, we have not been informed anything about the development. Even they are carrying out permanent constructions at the places where rituals will be performed. They are saying that those structures will be removed in time. But how it will be possible?” asked Madhaba Pujapanda, a member of SJTA committee.
“Now it is imperative that the project should be completed in time. Otherwise, there will be a huge problem in crowd management,” said Madhaba Mohapatra, another member of SJAT committee.
The ground situation might be telling a different story, the administration is however giving promises after promises for the completion of the project work in time. Puri Collector, Chief Administrator of Srimandir, OBCC and Tata officials had taken stock of the ground situation on June 8.
“The work will be completed before Naba Jaubana Darshan for the smooth darshan of devotees,” said Srimandir administrator (development) Ajay Kumar Jena.
AS per Puri Collector Samarth Verma the construction work of outer access road will be completed before the Rath Yatra.
“Quality work is going on with full speed. Our target is to open outer access road facilities and other amenities to the public before Rath Yatra,” said Verma.
Now it remains to be seen whether the administration will be able to fulfill its promise and the construction work is completed in time or not.