Bhubaneswar, Aug 24: A high-level meeting was held today at Lok Seva Bhavan to discuss the proposed queue-based darshan system at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.

The meeting was chaired by Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan and attended by the Law Secretary, Puri SP, senior government officials and a technical team from IIT Bhubaneswar.

Speaking after the meeting, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said that the number of devotees visiting the temple for Mahaprabhu’s darshan has increased significantly, particularly on holidays.

The government is therefore working on measures to make darshan more systematic and convenient for devotees while ensuring that the temple’s rituals are not disrupted, he said.

The Minister said the technical team from IIT Bhubaneswar presented various options for the proposed darshan arrangement.

The institute had earlier been entrusted with the technical and structural assessment of the platforms planned to facilitate darshan from different heights. The earlier arrangement had been delayed due to technical issues.

According to the minister, a pilot model of the new system will be prepared after considering the temple’s rituals and the movement of devotees. The IIT Bhubaneswar team is expected to present the pilot model within the next eight to ten days. The government plans to implement the system within three to four months.

Under the proposed arrangement, five ramps will be used, with approximately 50 devotees able to have darshan simultaneously.

The minister said the system could facilitate the smooth darshan of around 8,000 to 10,000 devotees per hour.

The proposed ramps will extend from the Garuda Stambha area towards the outer wooden structure, while devotees will continue to enter through the existing route, including the Satapahacha area. The objective is to reduce crowd pressure inside the temple and ensure smoother movement of devotees.

The government is also working on a plan to implement the proposed nine-line system after devotees enter the temple. The detailed arrangement will be designed in such a way that the daily rituals and traditions of the Shree Jagannath Temple remain unaffected.

The Law Minister said the proposed system is aimed at creating a more disciplined and efficient darshan experience while managing the growing number of devotees visiting the shrine.