Dikhyaa Mohanty 
A system of air-conditioned lines for devotees waiting to enter Puri’s Puri Jagannath Temple will be implemented in the New Year. Puri police carried out the new system’s trial run. For the benefit of devotees, an 85-meter shaded pathway featuring air conditioning, a fan, CCTVs, and seating has been constructed from Marchikot Chowk to the temple office on the Grand Road.
Ten parallel queues, or rows of four feet wide metal barricades, line the pathway. In the AC pathway, more than 3,000 pilgrims can pass at once. Devotees can sit on the benches affixed to the metal barricade in each row as they wait in line.
“At no shrine in the nation have we observed such an AC queue management system for devotees. This idea was carried out as directed by 5T Chairman V K Pandian and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. An adequate number of police officers have been sent out to guarantee a hassle-free darshan, according to Ashish Singh, inspector general of police (central range).
The noteworthy change was brought about by the criticism that the Puri administration recently received for its subpar darshan system and queue management. Devotees endured agonizing conditions in October and November as they waited in line for hours under a covered walkway outside the temple.
