After a gap of two and a half years, the Gundicha Temple here would be reopened to the devotees within a week. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee on Saturday.
The devotees would be allowed to visit the temple without any entry fee. However, they would be barred from touching the Adap Mandap of the shrine and entering into the temple kitchen.
The temple managing committee asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Superintending Engineer to prepare a five-year budget and an action plan within a month for undertaking repairs in the Jagannath Temple. Moreover, the ASI was asked to submit a detailed report regarding the repair works undertaken at the temple during last one year.
Last year, the ASI had conducted laser scanning of several structures of the shrine excluding its sanctum sanctorum, but it is yet to submit a report regarding its findings to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).
“The temple managing committee has refused to allow the ASI to conduct laser scanning of the sanctum sanctorum or any other structure of the shrine until the submission of a detailed report on last year’s survey,” said a source in the SJTA.
The committee also decided to regulate the entry and presence of servitors at the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
“Some devotees have complained that they could not have a proper view of the idols due to the presence of a large number of servitors at the sanctum sanctorum. Henceforth, only the servitors who have been authorised to perform the rituals can only enter into the sanctum sanctorum,” said SJTA Chief Administrator Vir Vikram Yadav.