Draft proposal for Shree Jagannath Heritage Corridor gets approval

Puri, Feb 15: The draft proposal for the Shree Jagannath Heritage Corridor (SJHC) got approval of the Shree Mandir Managing Committee during a meeting held at the Niladri Bhakta Niwas in Puri on Monday. The SJHC will be a 75-meter corridor. The intent of the project is to provide expansive, unobstructed corridors around the Meghanada Pacheri for giving an opportunity to devotees and pilgrims to have visual connect with the Temple, Neelchakra and Meghanada Pacheri. SJHC also serves functions of providing amenities for pilgrims and for strengthening safety & security of the temple and for those visiting Shree Jagannatha Temple. The various components of the project include heritage corridor components, Shree Jagannath Reception Centre (SJRC), amenities and matha temples. The proposal divides the heritage corridor into 9 layers: a green buffer surrounding the temple complex, the Antar Pradakshina path, the Landscape zone, Bahya Pradakshina path, public convenience zone, service lane, shuttle cum emergency lane, mixed traffic lane and pedestrian footpath. In order to meet the essential requirements of visitors to Shree Mandira and the SJHC, a queue management facility with capacity of 6,000 persons, along with security checking (Baggage screening) facility, main cloakroom for keeping belongings of upto four thousand families, drinking water and toilet facilities, facilities for washing hands and feet, souvenir including book shop etc. are being provided in this centre. This will be built over half an acre land available next to SJHC on South-East side. “ For development of Matha temples existing within 75 meter SJHC, proposal has been approved. All the matha temples are being developed by keeping in mind Kalinga style of architecture in general and specific traditions of the concerned mathas,” said an official.