Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati on his maiden visit to Puri took stock of the preparations for the Nabakalebar festival of lord Jagannath to be held in the city next year.
Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Authority (SJTA) Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Puri district Collector Dhiren Patnaik and Superintendent of Police Anup Sahoo and other officials were present at the review meeting.
Speaking to the mediapersons after the meeting, Pati said efforts are being made to complete the preparations in time, by the end of December this year.
“I will make frequent visits to Puri and review the developments taking place for the Nabakalebar preparations,” said Pati, adding that he has asked the District Magistrate to keep him informed in this regard on a regular basis.
Pati said early completion of all relevant works for improvement of infrastructure for the grand occasion is high on the SJTA’s agenda.
The SJTA would soon take up cleaning of the sea beach and sweet water bodies, setting up of sanitary centres including toilet blocks, in the city under the district administration and the SJTA and timely completion of roads and electricity installations are among the subjects discussed at the meeting.
The State Government has already earmarked more than Rs 1,000 crore for development of infrastructure and amenities for the large number of visitors who will throng the pilgrim city during the Nabakalebar festival.