Puri Development Push: Govt Charts Roadmap to Transform Pilgrimage City into World-Class Heritage Hub

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has stepped up efforts to transform Puri, the sacred abode of Lord Jagannath, into a world-class heritage city, while safeguarding its cultural and spiritual identity.

A high-level review meeting was held today under the joint chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and Law, Works and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan to assess progress on ongoing projects and set the roadmap for future development.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy CM Pravati Parida said that Puri and the Shree Jagannath Temple hold global significance, with millions of devotees aspiring to visit the holy city. She underlined the importance of coordinated efforts between government agencies and the public to make Puri more vibrant, beautiful, and spiritually fulfilling, and urged officials to fast-track key projects.

Echoing similar sentiments, Minister Prithviraj Harichandan acknowledged the challenges inherent in large-scale development work but stressed that they could be addressed through determined leadership and meticulous planning. He instructed officials to prioritise timely completion of projects while maintaining high standards of execution.

The review covered multiple flagship initiatives, including the beautification of Shree Gundicha Temple, upgradation of Pramod Udyan, land acquisition for Shree Mandir Adarsh Gurukulam, the Sevayat Housing Project, development of a world-class Raghunandan Library and Shree Jagannath Research Centre, establishment of a Bhakta Niwas at the old police station site, and conservation of Atharnala and other heritage structures.

Officials also discussed proposals to blend traditional Odia architecture into new infrastructure, remove hazardous structures around the Shree Mandir, introduce modern equipment in city infrastructure, and ensure strict compliance with National Heritage Authority guidelines. All projects will be vetted by the Puri-Konark Development Authority before execution.

The meeting was attended by Shree Jagannath Temple Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee, Works Department Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, Puri District Collector Divyajyoti Parida, OBCC Managing Director Sameer Hota, EIC (Civil) Satyabrata Behera, Works Department Advisor Jayakrishna Das, and other senior officials.