Bhubaneswar, October 24: The Shree Jagannath Temple administration has completed the construction of a ramp and the installation of railings to improve accessibility and facilitate a smoother darshan experience for devotees with disabilities at the 12th-century shrine in Puri.

The ramp extends from the Gumuta near the temple’s northern entrance to the Kurma Bedha. The facility is aimed at making darshan more convenient for Divyang devotees while ensuring their safety and maintaining effective crowd management.

The administration is now preparing a dedicated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to regulate the facility. Under the proposed arrangement, eligible devotees with disabilities will be permitted to reach the area near the Bahara Katha, close to the Jaya-Vijaya Dwara, for darshan of Lord Jagannath.

As part of the initial phase, a trial run involving around 20 devotees per day is planned. However, the trial will not be conducted during the ongoing Kartika month due to the heavy influx of pilgrims. The facility will be introduced once all necessary arrangements are finalised.

A high-level meeting was recently convened to review the proposed system. The meeting was attended by the Puri District Collector, Superintendent of Police, members of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, senior servitors and officials of the temple administration.

Key issues discussed included online registration, reporting and verification procedures, designated transit routes, safety protocols and emergency arrangements. Members of the Managing Committee also offered suggestions on the booking mechanism and scheduling of darshan to ensure a smooth and orderly process.

Specially trained volunteers will be deployed to assist Divyang devotees and facilitate their movement towards the Natamandap or Jagamohan.

However, the use of conventional wheelchairs inside the temple remains restricted. The administration is yet to finalise an alternative arrangement, with options including specially designed wooden or other wheelchairs, as well as assistance from attendants to carry devotees. The matter will be examined further before the facility becomes operational.

Under the proposed online booking system, eligible Divyang devotees will be allowed to avail themselves of the special darshan facility twice a year, with a minimum interval of six months between visits.

The initiative follows an earlier direction from the Orissa High Court to take appropriate measures to ensure orderly and accessible darshan for devotees with disabilities at the Shree Jagannath Temple.