Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik on Saturday visited Puri to make an on-spot assessment of the progress of works in the pilgrim city under the Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme.
This was his first visit outside Capital city in seven months after Covid-19 pandemic struck.
Naveen first visited the temple offered prayer to Patitapaban from Singhadwar and had darshan of Neelachakra.
The Government decided to spend Rs 3,208 crore under ABADHA scheme in three years to transform Puri into world heritage city with hassle free visits.
He reviewed the arrangements made for robust queue management system on south-east side and asked officials to ensure devotees have hassle-free entry through Singhadwar.
Adequate arrangements should be made to comfort the devotees when they wait in the queue to go inside temple for darshan of the, he stressed.
The Chief Minister asked the officials to design Heritage Corridor in such a manner that persons with disabilities should be able to go around Parikrama on their own.
Devotees doing Parikrama should have an unhindered view of the majestic boundary wall.
Security should be strengthened around the temple, and all arrangements should be made for the safety and convenience of visitors and pilgrims.
For elderly persons, electric carts should be pressed into service so that they do not face any problem even if they are to park their vehicles at a distance, he directed.
On the southern side of the Meghnad Pacheri, he advised the creation of tree-shaded spaces to make Parikrama comfortable with particular emphasis on universal access.
On the western side, he directed that no utilities like electric substation should be next to the Meghnad Pacheri.
The present CESU control room should be shifted, and adequate arrangements are made for serving Mahaprasad to a large number of people at one go at the northern side.
He was accompanied by Development Commissioner Suresh Mohapatra and 5T Secretary VK Pandian.
