Puri: With Snana Purnima and Rath Yatra of the sibling deities of Jagannath Temple fast approaching, the authorities have started dismantling the air-conditioned (AC) corridor and barricades within it on the Grand Road in Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri.
Notably, the 85-metre long and 12-metre-wide AC corridor was set up by the government from Marchikot Square to Jagannath Temple for convenience of devotees waiting in queues to enter the shrine.
The corridor was opened in December last year ahead of the inauguration of the Shree Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor Project near the 12th century shrine.
As per official sources, a meeting of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) held recently decided that the temporary structure will be removed before the Snana Purnima which is scheduled on June 22. “Since the bada danda (Grand Road) witnesses a mammoth gathering during Snana Purnima and Rath Yatra, the AC corridor will be removed for observation of all rituals and devotees’ convenience,” an official said.
Moreover, the three chariots are parked in front of the temple during Rath Yatra and pulled to Gundicha temple and removing the corridor will free up the space.
The AC corridor was equipped with seating arrangements, LED televisions and drinking water facilities. Official sources informed that it will be reinstalled after the Rath Yatra is over.
Meanwhile, all the four gates of the 12th century shrine are likely to be opened for devotees soon and a team of SJTA visited the temple on Monday to assess the situation. While a final decision on the issue will be taken by the temple managing committee meeting, all the gates are likely to be opened after the new government is formed, sources said.
