Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has felicitated people who gave their land for the Rs 280-crore ‘Ekamra’ project around the 11-century Lingaraj temple here.
He also laid the foundation stone for the project Wednesday.
The state government had, in 2019, planned the Ekamra Kshetra Amenities and Monuments Revival Action Plan, which is known as the ‘Ekamra’ project.
It will come up over 80 acres of land around the Lingaraj temple.
Ahead of the foundation laying ceremony, ‘bhumi puja’ and ‘yagna’ was organised near the 11th-century shrine.
The ceremony was organised by the Lingaraj Temple Trust Board to highlight the cultural heritage of ‘Ekamra Kshetra’.
The project includes the restoration of ‘Ekamra’ Khetra’s (Bhubaneswar old town) architectural and ancient heritage, building a 12-18 metre wide traffic lane for better vehicular movement, creation of 4-10 metre wide walkways and relocation of parking facilities.
Open space for the gathering of devotees, development of a 1,600 sqm information centre for emergency services and a dedicated pedestrian path around the Bindusagar pond for easy access to ritual spaces and the ‘Ekamra’ forest are part of the project.
The state government has entrusted the project work to the Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation.
PTI