Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) plans to construct a new modern pilgrim accommodation facility in Odisha’s Puri for devotees and servitors.
The proposal for the new facility, ‘Patitapabana Bhakta Nivas’, was discussed in detail at the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee meeting held recently. The members deliberated on the development of the new facility and its implementation.
Officials said the proposed bhakta nivas will come up on temple administration land behind the existing Niladri Bhakta Nivas, near Srimarg on the Grand Road. The land has already been developed for the proposed project.
The SJTA has also written to the Odisha government seeking funding from the ABADHA scheme for construction of the new facility.
The project will include modern amenities for pilgrims as well as facilities for temple servitors. A state-of-the-art Kalyan Mandap (conference hall) and a high-quality dispensary have been proposed on the ground floor for the use of servitors.
The decision to construct the new bhakta nivas at the site was taken at a meeting chaired by the Works Minister last year. The Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation (OBCC) will prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project and undertake the construction work.
During the latest Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee meeting, it was decided that the new facility would be named ‘Patitapabana Bhakta Nivas’.
Chief Administrator of SJTA Arabinda Kumar Padhee has written to the Principal Secretary of the Works Department requesting that the preparation of the DPR and construction work be expedited.
The proposed modern facility would be useful for pilgrims and devotees visiting Puri as well as members of the temple servitor community, Padhee said.
The existing accommodation facilities of the SJTA include Niladri, Nilachala, Shree Gundicha and Purushottam Bhakta Nivas.
