Bhubaneswar, January 8: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) is under fire after it decided to impose a Rs 500 parking fee for four-wheelers at the Bhakta Nivas (guest house) facilities in Puri.

A notification released last Wednesday announced that visitors staying at any of the four Bhakta Nivases will now be required to pay Rs 500, which includes 18% GST, for parking their vehicles for 24 hours. This fee will be enforced until further notice.

SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee defended the fee, explaining that it was introduced to streamline parking management and improve the organization of parking spaces for the convenience of visitors. However, the decision has sparked protests from tourists, servitors, and political leaders who have expressed strong opposition to the additional charge.