Today, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the Rs 800 crore Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa or Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor project. The pilgrim town, Puri was adorned with flowers, lights, and graffiti. The project includes parking areas, Shree Setu (a bridge), Shree Danda (a road), running parallel to Bada Danda to ease pilgrim movement, pilgrimage centre, restroom facilities, cloakrooms, toilets and other amenities for visitors in and around the Jagannath temple. 
 
The CM reached the corridor by around 1 pm and unveiled the much-awaited project at 1.30 pm. A large number of devotees from different parts of Odisha and the country have already congregated here for the inaugural ceremony. Patnaik has also released some documentary videos on the project. 

A three-day long yagna culminated on Wednesday afternoon with Gajapati Maharaj of Puri Divyasingha Deb performing the 'purnahuti' in the 'havan' between 1.30 pm to 2 pm. Patnaik dedicated the project to devotees with the culmination of the Yagna. The priests, sadhus, and other delegates along with the chief minister performed the Parikrma around the temple between 2 pm to 2.30 pm. 

Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Ranjan Kumar Das said that Sadhus from 90 shrines and religious institutions across the country have reached the holy town and preparations for their smooth stay have been arranged.  He said a special auditorium fitted with large digital screens has been set up on the parikrama for 900 guests. 

 "... all the arrangements are in place. The project is going to be inaugurated by the chief minister. The administration has made Shree Marg (a new road), Shree Setu (a new bridge) and Jagannath Ballav Parking area functional. Dignitaries have started arriving in the town from 10 am. The people had a smooth darshan of the deities in the morning hours smoothly", said Puri Collector Samarth Verma, in the run up to the event. 

Meanwhile, the holy town was under a tight security blanket with the deployment of 90 platoons (1 platoon comprising 30 personnel) of police force. Apart from CCTV surveillance, the police have engaged bomb disposal teams, anti-sabotage teams, and dog squads to ensure the safety of the area, said DGP Arun Kumar Sarangi.  

The state government has already announced Wednesday as a public holiday to facilitate people's participation in the inauguration. Government offices, schools, and colleges across the state will remain closed while private offices and institutions will ensure live streaming of the event for their employees and students. 

Image Source: TOI