As part of the repair of the Jagamohan (Assembly hall adjoining the sanctum sanctorum) of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, a team of experts began test digging of its floor on Friday for erection of steel structures.
Test digging of the Jagamohan’s floor using electric drills began in the presence of Shree Mandir Technical Core Committee (SMTCC) members and experts of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
“Prof AP Gupta, Chairman of ASI’s core committee after examining the condition of the stone beam had recommended that it needs to be given support using stainless steel frames. A cost estimate of its design was sent to the Director General (DG) of the ASI. The DG ASI has sought a cost estimate of the foundation to be laid for the erection of the steel structure. In order to ascertain the nature of foundation, the structure would require we have requisitioned drilling machines to find out what lies underneath the floor. On the basis of the finding, the ASI here will decide on the depth of the holes to be dug for the foundation of the steel structures and accordingly send an estimate to the ASI DG,” informed Dharmapada Mishra, member of the SMTCC to reporters.
Notably, Prof Gupta during his visit to the temple on March 29 had said that repair of the Jagamohan cannot be delayed further.