Bhubaneswar: As part of Smart Janpath project, the temple of Maa Tarini near Master Canteen Square in the city was demolished on Wednesday.
A joint squad of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) carried out demolition of the 40-year old temple. The officials of the two authorities supervised the demolition amid heavy deployment of police forces to prevent any untoward incident.
Though the locals expressed their displeasure over demolition stating that it was carried out despite a stay order issued by the Civil Court till May 19, there was no opposition during the drive.
Sources in BMC said the temple was demolished on an order from the Orissa High Court and the temple would be relocated in another area of the city.
In November last year, the Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) had demolished the structures surrounding the Maa Tarini temple, leaving the original structure housing the deity under the banyan tree untouched.
The BSCL plans to construct pedestrian paths, undertake buffer plantation and install lighting system for the beautification of the reclaimed land under the Smart Janpath project. The Rs 80-crore project is part of the Bhubaneswar Smart City Mission.
