--Given the pace of progress, it looks unlikely
: Even though the works of Parikrama Marg near the Jagannath Temple are going on a war-footing, suspense shrouds over their completion in the stipulated time. Even suspense continues whether or not the works would be completed before the Akshaya Tritiya scheduled on April 23, when the construction of three chariots would commence.
Former Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra during his Puri visit on January 28 to review the progress had set a deadline to complete the project by April. After overseeing the progress near the Jagannath Temple, Mahapatra had strictly ordered the Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation (OBCC) to finish the project in the next three months.
However, looking at the ongoing progress, there is little hope of the project being completed before April 28 when the deadline would be over.
Even before the upcoming Rath Yatra, the entire project may not be completed. As many as 12 small to big facilities including toilets, cloak room, shoe stand, reception and convention centres, drinking water and lawn etc. would be developed under the project near the temple. Works of some facilities are yet to begin as they need clearance from the National Monument Authority (NMA).
The State Government has taken up construction under Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme, which costs around Rs 303 crore. As the Parikrama Marg is an ambitious project of the State Government and is scheduled to be inaugurated by the CM before the Rath Yatra this year, the district administration is under immense pressure over its early completion. It is believed that the CM might inaugurate a part of the project any day before the Rath Yatra if the project is not completed in its entirety.