Odisha: Unauthorised sellers to be out from Ananda Bazaar in Srimandir

Puri: In a bid to bring transparency in the selling of Mahaprasad at Ananda Bazaar of Srimandir, the temple administration will show the unauthorised sellers an exit door from the area.

“The unauthorised sellers will be prohibited to sell Abadha at existing selling point of Ananda Bazaar. The temple, as well as police administration, will jointly drive them out of Ananda Bazaar. We will implement this immediately after the month of Kartik,” informed Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra on Tuesday.

The move came after discussing with the Mahasuar Nijog to bring disciplines at Ananda Bazaar of the Jagannath Temple.

Only suar and their associates attached to the nijog will be permitted for selling Abadha there, he told media reporters.

As per the decision, there will be 48 sheds at Ananda Bazaar. The Suar Nijog has been given the task to decide who will sell Abadha on which shed.

“Total 48 sheds will be constructed at Ananda Bazaar for the suar servitors to sell Abadha. In view of the numbers of servitors, we have asked the Suar Nijog to submit a written copy to the temple administration about their decision to allow the sheds to servitors to sell Abadha at Ananda Bazaar,” Mohapatra said.

The blueprint for the construction of sheds has been approved by the central IG, Puri collector and SP. The Jindal’s project estimated at around Rs 67 crore has been approved at previous managing committee meeting for building the sheds around the temple and two toilet blocks, he said.

Besides, there will be a complaint box at Ananda Bazaar for the devotees.

He said that business tycoon Mukesh Ambani during his recent visit to Srimandir has been given a proposal to construct a multi-level car parking system at Jagannath Ballav mutt in Puri where 1,500-2,000 cars can be parked. He has also been approached for development of Emar mutt.