The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the temple administration are worried over the poor state of the Singhadwar (lion’s Gate), the main entrance to the Shri Jagannath Temple here.
The experts have found big cracks, loose stones and huge erosions of stone blocks of the gate wall. There are a number of stone blocks in a tilting condition.
All this came to light after the removal of a three-storied structure of Pratihari Nijog located alongside the temple gate by the ASI workers. It took almost four days to work manually to dismantle the structure. The demolition of the Nijog building became possible after the High Court gave green signal to proceed with it.
There are two other structures which would be removed shortly, said an ASI official. The damage is huge and beyond expectation, he said, adding that the statutory expert body would decide on how to conduct repairs and complete them before this year’s Rath Yatra.
The administration has closed the gate and the devotees are asked to use the other three gates for entry into the shrine.
The High Court had recently asked the ASI to remove all the structures within 10 feet from the temple wall and the height of a building was restricted to one story only.
The temple administration and the ASI would clear the encroachments in a phased manner as the structures are in a fragile condition. Many stones of the main gate would be replaced with new ones, and where it is not possible to do so the patch would be reinforced with additional support, the ASI officials said.
The statutory body of experts of the State and ASI are likely to meet the temple management body to chalk out the repair works.