Puri: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone of Srimandir Parikrama project (Heritage Corridor) in Puri on Wednesday. “This is a historical day for Odisha,” said CM Patnaik.
Along with CM Patnaik, Assembly speaker Surya Narayan Patra, Puri MP Pinaki Misra and others were present on the occasion.
A Maha Yajna (traditional sacred offering to fire) near the North Gate (Hastidwara) of the Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri had commenced on Monday for the foundation stone laying ceremony. Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb is the ‘karta’ at the ‘yajna’.
The temple will be open for devotees who will need to access the Simhadwara or East Gate as entrance and exit during the foundation laying event.
Barricading has been done on both sides of the roads in the Grand Road (i.e. Badadanda) to help in maintaining decorum.
Ahead of Chief Minister’s visit to Puri, Chief Secretary Suresh Mahapatra and Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian visited Puri to check the arrangements.
The project is being implemented within a 75-metre radius of the Meghanada Pacheri of the temple. The state government has earmarked Rs 800 crore for the project.
Ms Kalinga