Bhubaneswar: Law, Works, and Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Friday reviewed multiple heritage, cultural, and pilgrimage infrastructure projects linked to Shree Jagannath culture and temple development during a series of meetings held at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar.
The minister reviewed the proposed ‘Shree Jagannath Culture Centre’ and ‘Raghunandan Library’, which aim to strengthen the preservation, protection, and global promotion of Shree Jagannath culture.
During the meeting, Harichandan said the sacred tradition of Lord Jagannath remains deeply connected with Odia identity, spirituality, and cultural heritage, and preserving it for future generations is a collective responsibility.
According to the proposed plan, the centre will house two modern conference halls and an audio-visual hall to support academic discussions, seminars, workshops, and research activities. The facility will also focus on presenting the history, philosophy, traditions, and social influence of Jagannath culture before a global audience, the minister said in a series of posts on X.
He also said special emphasis would be given to research related to Jagannath culture, ancient history, and religious heritage. Important historical materials, including Madala Panji records, palm-leaf manuscripts, rare temple documents, and traditional archival records, will be digitally preserved to ensure easier access for future generations and researchers.
Harichandan also reviewed the progress of the under-construction ‘Nilachal Bhakta Nivas Annex Building’ at Shree Jagannath Dham in Puri. The project is being developed to provide affordable, secure, and convenient accommodation facilities for devotees visiting the temple town.
Harichandan also discussed various issues related to pilgrim amenities and said the additional infrastructure would help improve the overall pilgrimage experience through better facilities, improved surroundings, and efficient management systems.
In another meeting, Harichandan reviewed the proposed development and beautification plans surrounding Lingaraj Temple and the restoration of the sacred Bindusagar Lake. He examined the proposed designs and discussed steps for the comprehensive development of the temple surroundings and the historic water body.
Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, OBCC advisor Jayakrishna Das, OBCC Chief General Manager-II Engineer Sridhar Raut, Chief Construction Engineer Manoj Mahananda, and architects were present during the review meetings.
