Finance
On Tuesday, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) began the long-awaited repair and renovation work of Puri Srimandir’s Ratna bhandar. The repair work will proceed in accordance with the Odisha government’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and temple experts will supervise the repairs. Teams of conservators, chemical experts, medical professionals, Fire Services officials, and a special ASI team are working to repair and renovate the Ratna Bhandar.
Speaking to the media, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said that the repair work has started and will be completed within three months. “The ASI has given us a time frame of three months to complete the work, but we have urged them to finish the task earlier,” he said.
According to the minister, a specific time has been fixed for the repair and renovation work of the Ratna Bhandar and it will not affect the rituals at the temple or the darshan of the devotees.
Meanwhile, ASI officials stated that they will perform some repair work on the first day today, but will mostly watch the timings of the rites to ensure that their work does not interfere with the rituals of Lord Jagannath and his Holy Siblings.
During the repairs, devotees can view the temple from outside the ‘Bahara Katha’. Every day, the repair work would continue for 5 hours following the second Bhoga mandapa. The job will begin daily at 12.30 p.m. or 1 p.m. and last until 6 p.m.
Initially, iron pillars will be built to give structural support for the rehabilitation operation. The chambers’ plaster will then be removed. The iron beams and rockwork will then be completed. Work Work on both the outer and the inner Ratna Bhandar will continue simultaneously.
