Bhubaneswar: A new crowd-management mechanism could soon be introduced at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri to handle the growing number of devotees and make the darshan process more systematic and hassle-free.
The proposed arrangement was discussed during a high-level meeting chaired by Law, Works and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan at Lok Seva Bhawan on Monday. IIT Bhubaneswar experts presented different models for regulating the movement of devotees at the shrine.
As per the proposed plan, devotees would be guided through a structured route beginning from seven steps and subsequently moving through five dedicated ramps. The system is being designed to accommodate around 8,000 to 10,000 devotees per hour, according to the minister.
The government plans to first test the proposed mechanism through a pilot project before taking a decision on its full-scale implementation. The pilot will help assess the practicality of the proposed movement pattern and identify areas requiring modification.
Harichandan said the pilot model would be placed before the Chhatisa Niyoga and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration for detailed examination. Suggestions and feedback from the stakeholders will be considered before the final plan is prepared.
The proposed system is being considered in view of the increasing footfall at the temple, with the number of devotees rising significantly during holidays and other peak periods. An organised movement system is expected to help ease congestion and improve crowd regulation.
The government is also looking to ensure that any new arrangement balances the need for efficient crowd management with the traditional practices and sanctity associated with the historic shrine.
The meeting was attended by Law Department Principal Secretary Dr Pabitra Mohan Samal, Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh, Special Secretary Pranab Kumar Patra, Additional Secretary Shiva Prasad Mohapatra, Works Department Advisor J.K. Das, OBCC Chief Executive Officer Sridhar Raut, IIT Bhubaneswar technical advisors and other senior officials.
