The beautification work around the Sun Temple at Konark would be completed well before Nabakalebar of lord Jagannath, lord Barabhadra and Devi Subhadra at Puri in 2015.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Puri district administration to expedite the work being undertaken on behalf of the Indian Oil Corporation limited (IOCl). The IOCl would spend `35 crore for the project, an official release informed.
On Saturday, Pradhan visited the Sun Temple and held detailed discussions regarding the beatification work with the ASI Superintendent, senior officials of the district administration, IOCl and local people’s representatives.
Once the beatification work is completed, more visitors from the country and abroad would enjoy visiting the temple and the Nabagraha located near it. This apart, lakhs of devotees who are expected to throng Puri during the Nabakalebar would certainly be attracted to its beauty, the Union Minister said.