Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Odisha’s Puri town has made elaborate arrangements for convenience of the devotees including revising the darshan time of the deities in expectation of heavy rush on New Year.
The arrangements were finalised at a meeting of servitors and other officials chaired by district collector Samarth Verma on Wednesday. As per the decision taken at the meeting, the Singhadwar of Jagannath temple will be closed early December 31 night and will be opened at 1 am on January 1, said an official of SJTA.
In order to accommodate more devotees, who will be waiting in queue, it has been decided to make the stretch from Singhadwar to Market Square free of vendors. The administration will carry out eviction drive in ‘the no vending zone from December 31 to January 2.
The present barricades will be extended further and special sheds constructed for senior citizens. Besides, kiosks to supply drinking water to the devotees waiting in the queue will be constructed from Singhadwar to Market Square. There will be facility of ambulance services also.
Apart from existing shoe stands, another will come up at Market Square. The devotees can know the updates on the rituals of the deities from LED display to be installed on the stretch, the official said.
For the devotees coming in vehicles, free parking arrangements will be made at Jagannath Ballav, Sharadhabali, SCS College Square, Barabati Jaga and Loknath Road. The visitors can park their vehicles at parking lot of Puri Municipality by paying a fixed fee.
For the security of the devotees, special arrangements of deploying additional police inside and outside the temple will be made. Besides, watch and guard arrangements on sea beach will be beefed up, said the official.
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