The Chief Minister dedicated the Rs 200 crore project after offering prayers at Maa Samaleswari temple in the western Odisha town.

After unveiling the project in the presence of several dignitaries, temple priests and servitors, the CM witnessed the yagna performed on the occasion.

5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman V K Pandian, functionaries of Samaleswari Temple Trust Board and senior officials were present on the occation.

The inauguration came ten days after a religious and political spectacle in Puri which saw the grand unveiling of Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa, strategically timed with the Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya.

The SAMALEI project in western Odisha, which is considered a BJP stronghold, is expected to witness an equally magnificent opening, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official tour to the town in the first week of February. And this temple gambit by the BJD is being seen as an attempt to outmanoeuvre the BJP in the state and counter its Hindutva push ahead of the twin elections.

The 16th-century Samaleswari Temple, the abode of the presiding deity of the western Odisha, on the banks of the Mahanadi has seen remarkable transformation over 39 acre of its peripheral area under Rs 200-crore project, which include a 1km heritage corridor, heritage gates, improvement of access to the temple, and state-of-the-art amenities for the pilgrims. Development of Mahanadi river front is also part of the project.

The SAMALEI scheme is being implemented by the Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation (OBCC).

Ahead of the inauguration, the CM on Friday addressed the people, and said that Odisha will always remember those who volunteered to forego their lands for this project. “This project could be completed because of the blessings of Maa Samaleswari despite the hurdles during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he further said, while elaborating on the purpose behind the transformative improvement of the shrine.

Besides providing devotees and people an experience of peace and divine bliss, Naveen said that it will help boost tourism and economy of the region. “Now, thousands of devotees can congregate at the ghat to witness Mahanadi Alati,” he added.

The days leading to the project inauguration here also saw a yajna by the temple priests and ceremonial rituals, which culminated with a Kalash Shobha Yatra to Samaleswari Temple in which more than 1000 women participated on Friday. The water brought during the Yatra will be used for holy bath of the deity, Samaleswari Temple Trust Board chairman Sanja Babu had earlier told the media.

According to a CMO release, the decision was taken by the government on Thursday to encourage public participation in the event. Government offices will remain shut on this day as it’s the fourth Saturday of the month.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will inaugurate the Samaleswari Temple Area Management and Local Economy Initiatives (SAMALEI) project on January 27. The rituals for the inauguration commenced on Monday and is likely to culminate with a Kalash Yatra by women in the city on January 26. The water brought during the Yatra will be used for the holy bath of the Goddess, according to sources.

The state government has spent more than Rs 200 crore on this project. The redevelopment included beautification and peripheral development of the temple, heritage corridor, state-of-the-art amenities and the Mahanadi riverfront development. The project was carried out over an area of around 40 acres.

The government had earlier declared January 17 as a public holiday to mark the inauguration of for Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa around Jagannath Temple in Puri.

The Odisha government is spending around Rs 200 crore for the implementation of the Samaleswari Temple Area Management and Local Economy Initiatives (SAMALEI) project in Sambalpur.

During his visit to Sambalpur, Pandian held a meeting at the conference hall in the district collector’s office for a thorough review of the progress made in the project. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including RDC, Sambalpur collector and commissioner of Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC), sources said.

The 5T Chairman also visited Maa Samaleswari Temple and offered prayers before the goddess. He went around AAMALEI project site and took stock of the ongoing work.

The Chief Minister is slated to inaugurate the project which has been taken up for the beautification and peripheral development of the temple, heritage corridor, state-of-the-art amenities and the Mahanadi riverfront development.