BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday approved a Rs 100 crore master plan for development of the historic Nilamadhab temple at Kantilo in Nayagarh district.
The moves came two weeks after 5T secretary V K Pandian reviewed the development plan with the temple servitors and local administration. The master plan includes an integrated heritage and monument development approach.
Situated on top of the twin hills on the banks of Mahanadi, the Nilamadhab temple occupies a prominent position in Jagannath culture. The temple is a miniature form of Puri Jagannath temple and observes similar rituals. Though there is no clear information on exact year of establishment of the shrine, lakhs of tourists from within and outside the state visit the temple every year.
Preservation of the ancient temple, streamlining darshan, development of parikrama project, beautification, widening and strengthening of roads, plantation, development of recreation space and park and protection and beautification of the riverbanks of Mahanadi are part of the master plan. It also includes development of the steps on which devotees walk up to the temple.
While the state government also aims to develop all the four dwaras (gates) of the temple in four different directions, the plan includes installation of lifts and skybridge at the west gate for the benefit of old and differently-abled persons. Some of the ancillary temples situated on the temple premises and other nearby religious places, a cloak room and an interpretation centre will also be developed as a part of the master plan.
Khondalite stones will be used for upgradation of the temple and its periphery areas. While the eastern entry to the temple will have a 9-metre-long road, the western entry will have a 12-metre road.
