President Pranab Mukherjee has responded positively to the request of the Odisha Government for a special dispensation on account of the Nabakalebar festival of lord Jagannath at Puri in 2015.
The President has also taken up with the Union Ministry of Culture the demand for a dedicated office of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Puri for an overall surveillance of the Shree Jagannath Temple.
Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Arabinda Padhee has received a communication in this regard from the Secretariat of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Dr Padhee revealed that the President’s Secretariat has communicated to the Union Ministry of Culture and the Planning Commission on the issues pertaining to Nabakalebar and the ASI office at Puri.
He said the President during his recent visit to Puri was keen on organising the Nabakalebar in a special way. He was also apprised of the urgent need for a dedicated ASI office for maintenance, conservation and surveillance of the 12th-century shrine.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on May 21 had written to the Planning Commission seeking Rs 1,347 crore for infrastructure development required for the grand religious occasion, but there was no response to the letter.
However, President Mukherjee had asked Dr Padhee to communicate these issues to him so that they would be taken up with the concerned authorities. Accordingly, Dr Padhee had sent him a letter along with documents relating to Nabakalebar.
Meanwhile, a high-level meeting was held on Saturday last chaired by Development Commissioner Injeti Srinivas on these issues. The meeting focussed on development of infrastructure before organising the Nabakalebar.
Srinivas directed the East Coast Railway to expedite railway projects for the Khurda Road railway station bypass, double lining of the project from Delanga via Sakhigopal to Puri, upgradation of the Puri and Malatipatapur railway stations, RoBs and pedestrian underpasses at different locations.
A team of officers including Works Secretary NK Pradhan, Special DGP Sanjeev Marik and other senior officers will visit the spot on Tuesday for appreciation of the ground realities.
Similarly, development of connectivity to the Alarnath Temple at Brahmgiri and its beautification also featured during the discussions. The Jagannath Temple administration has initiated work of Koili Baikuntha where the Daru Bigraha of the Trinity would be put to rest.
Various line departments have started their projects for the Nabakalebar as works have been scheduled to be completed by December 2014.
The Nabakalebara, considered as one of the most sacred rituals of the deities of Puri among all four Dhams, is expected to attract about 50 lakh devotees and tourists from across the country and abroad.