The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) would begin repair of the Jagmohan, the inner part of the 12th-century Jagannath Temple here, from December 16.
Visitors would not be allowed to have darshan of the deities during the renovation work.
Temple Chief Administrator Suresh Mohapatra said after a high-level meeting here, “The temple administration has decided to start repair work at 11 am and it will continue till 7 pm every day. Since there will be movement of workers inside the Jagmohan, we will not allow devotees to have darshan of the deities during the above mentioned time. But they can pay obeisance to the Trinity from the outer wooden barricade.”
“After 7 pm, there will be normal darshan for all the visitors,” he said.
Stating that the repair work is a complex operation involving full coordination among sevayats, ASI officials and the temple authorities, Mohapatra said the work would be handled with caution.
The last time major repairs in the sanctum sanctorum had taken place was in 1992 at a cost of Rs 2 crore. “That happened 23 years ago. Now, the cost of repairs will be around Rs 5 crore. The State Government will provide some funds to the
ASI for the purpose,” said an official.