Odisha approves ₹800-cr for heritage corridor

A whopping amount worth ₹800 crore has been approved by the state government for the ambitious heritage corridor project around the Jagannath Temple in Puri and that a draft architectural plan for the same has already been prepared. The heritage corridor will be developed within 75-metre area from the Meghnad pachari (boundary wall) of the 12th century shrine. The Puri district administration has already acquired around 15 acres of land for the purpose. Though the state government has approved ₹3,208 crore to develop Puri into a world-class heritage city but no amount was earmarked for the heritage corridor project. The chief minister while dedicating the draft architectural plan has sought suggestions from people for the final architectural plan and already received 231 valuable suggestions that are being scrutinized by a committee. The draft plan, prepared by a Bengaluru-based architectural firm, has components like advanced queue management system with overhead shades, trees on periphery, brief resting facility en-route, provision for washing feet, CCTV, drinking water and cloakrooms, steps to popularize Jagannath culture, Dashavatara and Beshas of deities and open-air theatre to showcase Odia culture.