Puri Jagannath Temple Admn Receives Ratna Bhandar GPR-GPS Survey Report; Asks ASI To Start Repair Work

Puri: Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has received the report of the Ratna Bhandar’s GPR-GPS survey conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

This information was shared by Chief Administrator of SJTA Arabinda Padhee in a post on X handle on Saturday.

The report of the GPR-GPS survey of the 12th century shrine’s Ratna Bhandar (Treasury) conducted by the ASI with the assistance of Hyderabad-based NGRI (National Geophysical Research Institute) has been received by the temple administration, the SJTA chief said.

Stressing that the temple administration has always been careful about the stability and security of the temple, Padhee said since the technical report has been received, the temple administration has requested the ASI authorities to immediately take up the repair, maintenance and conservation work of the entire Ratna Bhandar.

The temple administration will extend all its cooperation in this important work, the temple’s chief administrator said.

It may be noted that the GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) survey was conducted to assess the condition of both outer and inner chambers of Ratna Bhandar to ascertain possible existence of any hidden tunnels or structures.

Sophisticated equipment was used by the expert team in the presence of the nine-member Ratna Bhandar committee, chaired by Justice (Retd) Biswanath Rath, to scan the walls of of the treasury to assess the exact status of the structure.

Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan had earlier stated that inventory of the valuables of the Ratna Bhandar will be done once the repair work is completed.