Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration has proposed the construction of a new modern pilgrim accommodation facility, ‘Patitapabana Bhakta Nivas’, in Puri to provide improved facilities to devotees and temple servitors.

The proposal was discussed in detail at the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee meeting held on September 26, where the members deliberated on the development of the new facility and its implementation.

The proposed bhakta nivas will come up on temple administration land behind the existing Niladri Bhakta Nivas, near Srimarg on the Grand Road. The land has already been developed for the proposed project.

The temple administration has also written to the Odisha government seeking funding from the ABADHA scheme for construction of the new facility.

The project will include modern amenities for pilgrims as well as facilities for temple servitors. A state-of-the-art Kalyan Mandap (conference hall) and a high-quality dispensary have been proposed on the ground floor for the use of servitors.

The decision to construct the new bhakta nivas at the site was taken at a meeting chaired by the Works Minister last year. The Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation (OBCC) will prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project and undertake the construction work.

During the latest Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee meeting, the Gajapati Maharaja, Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri Collector and other committee members held detailed discussions with officials of OBCC regarding the project.

The committee decided that the new facility would be named ‘Patitapabana Bhakta Nivas’.

Shree Jagannath Temple Chief Administrator Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee has written to the Principal Secretary of the Works Department requesting that the preparation of the DPR and construction work be expedited.

Padhee said the proposed modern bhakta nivas would be useful for pilgrims and devotees visiting Puri as well as members of the temple servitor community.

The new facility will add to the existing accommodation infrastructure of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, which includes Niladri, Nilachala, Shree Gundicha and Purushottam Bhakta Nivas.