Bhubaneswar/Sambalpur: As part of the 5T initiative, the Odisha government has prepared a draft plan for redevelopment of the Samaleswari temple in Sambalpur. The total expenditure in the project will be to the tune of Rs 200 crore.
A detailed presentation on the draft redevelopment plan – Samaleswari Temple Area Management & Local Economy Initiatives (SAMALEI) – was made Wednesday before Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The government has sought suggestions from the public on the draft plan. The suggestions can be mailed to development.samalei@gmail.com by March 15.
The government plans to develop 108 acres of land around the Samaleswari temple as part of the redevelopment programme in the 2021-22 fiscal. Now the temple is located over an area of 12 acres.
As per the proposed plan, four gates will be constructed around the temple. Devotees will enter the temple through the east gate and exit through the other three gates.
An office, interpretation centre and service desk for the public will be set up the main entrance of the temple. A heritage corridor will be built around the temple. A one kilometre long pedestrian stretch will be built to facilitate easy movement of devotees.
Adequate facilities including parking space, special vending zones, toilets, information and donation centres will be built. Accommodation arrangements will be made available for devotees near the temple.
A 30-metre wide walkway will also be developed so that devotees can visit the Mahanadi Ghat from the temple.
In addition a 30 metres high deck will be built in the middle of the walkway, from which both the Mahanadi and the temple will be clearly visible.
PNN