Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project on January 17, just days before the scheduled inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Temple. The project, also known as “Shree Mandir Parikrama,” aims to facilitate a smooth and secure ‘Parikrama’ around the revered Jagannath Temple in Puri. Naveen Patnaik appealed to the public to participate in the inauguration by lighting diyas, blowing conch shells, offering prayers, and performing kirtan.
The Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project holds significance as it seeks to enhance the pilgrim experience and provide improved amenities for devotees visiting the 12th-century Jagannath Temple. Completed by the Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation (OBCC), the project covers an area of 879 hectares, stretching 10 kilometers from north to south.
One of the key objectives of the project is to create expansive, unobstructed corridors around the Meghanada Pacheri (outer wall) of the Jagannath Temple. The corridors are designed to offer excellent visual connectivity with the temple, allowing devotees a closer and more immersive experience. The ₹800-crore initiative includes various components such as parking facilities, a bridge named Shree Setu, pilgrimage centers, a new road, toilets, clock rooms, and other visitor amenities.
The completion of the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project is part of a broader initiative aimed at transforming Puri into a world heritage city, with a total investment exceeding ₹4,000 crore. The project has been executed with meticulous planning, involving over 2,600 workers and nearly 18 months of dedicated effort. The OBCC team used 9,000 kilometers of cabling, equivalent to the distance between South Africa and Norway.
In terms of scale, each of the 456 battery units used in the project is the size of a shipping container, weighing around 3,000 kilograms. The project incorporates modern amenities to improve the overall experience for pilgrims, aligning with the evolving needs of the devotees visiting the sacred site.
The inauguration ceremony, scheduled for January 17, is expected to witness the presence of numerous dignitaries, including ministers, political leaders, and religious leaders. Representatives from 90 religious shrines and institutions across the country have been invited to attend the event.
The significance of the project is not limited to its infrastructural impact. The initiative also holds political relevance, particularly in the context of the upcoming Odisha Legislative Assembly elections in 2024. The move is seen by some as a strategic attempt by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to boost religious sentiments and counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.
Odisha, traditionally a stronghold of the BJD, witnessed the BJP making significant inroads in the 2019 Odisha Assembly elections, winning eight of the 21 Lok Sabha seats. With an eye on a sixth consecutive term in Odisha, the BJD aims to leverage the completion and inauguration of the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project to resonate with the sentiments of the people.
The political landscape is marked by similarities with the situation surrounding the Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration. Both events have triggered reactions from the opposition, with allegations of political motives. The opposition in Odisha, particularly the Congress and the BJP, has characterized the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project’s inauguration as a “political event.”
The opposition has drawn parallels between the Ayodhya Ram Temple and the Puri Heritage Corridor projects, claiming that both are incomplete and are being used for political gains. Congress legislative party leader Narasingha Mishra stated that the government is utilizing public funds to further the ruling BJD’s electoral prospects.
While the political narrative unfolds, the completion of the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project stands as a testament to the commitment of the Odisha government to preserving and enhancing the cultural and religious heritage of the region. The project reflects a broader vision for Puri’s transformation into a world-class destination and the creation of an environment conducive to spiritual and cultural experiences for pilgrims and visitors alike.
