CM announces infra revamp for Puri to turn it into world-class tourism hub
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Bhubaneswar: Aiming to transform Puri into a world-class religious tourism destination and provide better amenities for residents, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday unveiled plans for a comprehensive infrastructure upgrade of the pilgrim town.
Elevating Puri from municipality to a municipal corporation, Majhi announced a world-class Shri Jagannath Museum, library and research centre in the beach town, which has a population of around 4 lakh.
Coinciding with the ongoing nine-day Rath Yatra festival, Majhi emphasised the need to enhance Puri's appeal beyond its iconic Jagannath Temple and scenic beaches. "To develop any tourist spot, the primary rule is how to make a tourist spend more time there, which leads to more spending," he said, highlighting the current lack of entertainment and tourist attractions in Puri beyond the 12th century shrine and sea beach.
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he proposed museum and library complex will be dedicated to Jagannath culture, offering an extensive collection of books and an e-library facility. The complex will showcase the rich culture and history of Lord Jagannath, featuring mythological significance, historical events and the emotional bond between devotees and the deity through various artworks, miniature sculptures and pattachitra paintings.
An auditorium with a seating capacity of around 300 will host daily light and sound shows in multiple languages, while an open-air stage will provide a platform for cultural programmes by state artists and institutions.
"The project will strengthen and enrich Jagannath culture, tradition and literature, providing an excellent opportunity for thousands of tourists visiting Puri Jagannath Dham to spend quality time," Majhi remarked, expressing confidence that the initiative will secure Puri a distinct place on the tourism map.
In addition to the infrastructure upgrade, the CM announced the launch of a digital donation system to facilitate offerings to Lord Jagannath. The new system, introduced on the 10th anniversary of Digital India initiative, will allow devotees to make offerings using a QR code displayed on the temple's website and at various locations in Puri.
"The primary objective is not to collect more donations, but to fulfil the devotees' sense of dedication to the Lord," Majhi said, noting the system will enable devotees to pay homage to the Lord from their homes, especially during significant events like Rath Yatra.
The CM said the decision to upgrade Puri into a municipal corporation aims to enhance the quality of basic amenities for both residents and millions of devotees who visit annually. "I have personally observed that the current Puri Municipality has not been able to meet the expectations of both the devotees and residents. To achieve this goal, reforms in the local self-governance system are necessary," he said, while justifying the elevation into a corporation.
The new Puri Municipal Corporation will include around seven to eight panchayats from Puri Sadar and Brahmagiri blocks, allowing these areas to benefit from city-like amenities. "The process for the transformation is set to begin immediately," he said. With this, Puri has become the sixth municipal corporation in Odisha after Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Rourkela.
Majhi reiterated the govt's commitment to developing Puri as a premier religious and tourist destination by 2036. "A prosperous Odisha cannot be envisioned without a beautiful, green, and developed Puri city," he added, highlighting the govt's vision for the future.
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