Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has sought the assistance of IIT Bhubaneswar to design a more effective queue system for the Shree Jagannath Temple, which dates back to the 12th century. This initiative aims to accommodate the growing influx of worshippers and provide a more organized and fulfilling spiritual experience.
During a press briefing following a high-level review meeting, Minister Harichandan detailed that the initial plan to install elevated wooden ramps in the Nata Mandap and Jagamohan areas will see significant alterations. “We initially proposed wooden ramps to enhance the devotees’ view of the deities. However, IIT Bhubaneswar is now developing a pilot model to optimize the design further,” he mentioned.
The prototype from IIT Bhubaneswar will first be tested before the new queue system is fully operational in the next three to four months, he noted.
According to the revised proposal, five to six lanes of elevated ramps will be built in the Nata Mandap and Jagamohan areas, elevating the devotees’ eye level for better views of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra from a distance. An expert team has also suggested ramps through the Sata Pahacha (seven steps), with five ramps extending from the Garuda Stambha to the Bahaar Katha (outer wooden barricade). This setup will allow around 50 devotees to have darshan simultaneously across the five ramps, facilitating the movement of between 8,000 and 10,000 people through the sanctum each hour.
Minister Harichandan also expressed his views on this initiative via X (formerly Twitter): “People around the globe hold immense devotion and interest in Lord Jagannath. As a result, the number of devotees rises each year, especially during holidays. To ensure orderly darshan for everyone, I led a high-level meeting to discuss various elements. IIT Bhubaneswar presented several models for effective queue management. A pilot project of the most suitable model will soon be prepared for review by the Chhatisa Nijoga and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). This will allow devotees to experience organized darshan through five separate ramps, enabling approximately 8,000 to 10,000 individuals to have a smooth darshan every hour, significantly improving the organization and experience of the visit.”
Emphasizing the need for this project, officials from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) noted that the current unstructured setup often leads to substantial congestion in the Nata Mandap. “The existing arrangement disappoints many, preventing them from properly viewing the deities. The new system will alleviate congestion and enhance the overall spiritual experience,” remarked a senior temple official.
In addition to ramp redesigns, officials confirmed plans to install air conditioning within the temple complex and Nata Mandap to improve comfort during prolonged waiting periods. These upgrades will respect traditional temple practices and will be implemented without interrupting daily rituals, following thorough consultations with the Chhatisa Nijog and senior servitors.
