ASI Puts Spanner In Odisha’s Lingaraj Temple Beautification Project

Bhubaneswar: The Lingaraj Temple beautification work has come to a halt. The Works Department had started digging around the temple and places near it, including the Ekamreswar Temple, Lingaraj Police station area and Debi Padahara pond about a week ago.

However, the Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI) additional director general, who visited the temple and its adjacent areas on Friday, expressed concern over the construction work, which he said, was being carried out without permission

It may be recalled that the state government had announced the ‘Ekamra Ksetra’ redevelopment plan on 66 acres of land around the temple. It includes construction of Lingaraj Entry Plaza and Lingaraj Heritage Complex, revival of Bindu Sagar, parking space, amenities for Kedar Gouri-Mukteswar complex, widening of the access road, Heritage e-auto project, relocation projects and new heritage interpretation centre.

The Lingaraj Entry Plaza will be an extension of the Lingaraj Temple complex and constructed over six acres of land around the temple. It will have similar designs and architecture. Among other facilities, it will also have special arrangements for Shivratri and Kanwariya pilgrims.