Puri, Nov 24 (UNI) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today performed the shilanyas ceremony
for Sri Mandir Parikrama by symbolically laying a stone at the site before construction begins.
As scheduled Mr.Patnaik arrived at Puri at about 9 AM and reached Yajna site near the Srimandir riding an EV vehicle from Simhadwar.
Gajapati king of Puri Dibyasingh Dev performed Purna ahuti on the ongoing three day yajna and
after that the chief minister conducted Silanyas of the Parikrama.
The Parikrama will have a mega reception hall for six thousand devotees, a large cloak room,
toilets for women and men at all four gates, first aid centres and police aid posts besides provision
for drinking water.
Four security watch towers will be erected at four sides of Parikrama. The devotees were allowed
to use the lions gate for entry into Srimandir.Mr.Patnaik stayed about 90 minutes at the Yajna site.
On the occasion the Chief Minister felicitated 131 persons and 15 Mahantas who had given up their land for creation of 75 metre heritage parikrama corridor around the Meghanad prachir of Srimandir.
He also unveiled a model of the Parikrama project and left the place after offering prayers to Patitapaban at the Lions gate.
The construction contract of the Rs.331.28 crore Parikrama project has been awarded to TATA Projects which would be completed within 18 months.
Security was so tight that even media persons were kept at a considerable distance from the
yajna site and the IPR department provided live telecast feed from a centrally located centre.
About 25 platoons of police force were deployed in and around the temple and along the route.
Chief secretary SC Mahapatra, Sri Jagannath temple chief administrator Dr.Krishan Kumar, 5T secretary VK Pandian, collector Samarth Verma and K.Vishal Singh the superintendent of police
were present.
UNI XC DP KK