Bhubaneswar: Acting on the directive of the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian visited the Maa Samaleswari Temple project popularly known as SAMALEI (Maa Samaleswari Temple Area Management and Local Economic Initiative) on Sunday morning.
The project is being developed in an area of about 30 acres and about 25 acres have already been acquired for the project. Work on the project is progressing at a fast pace.
Pandian today started his visit by offering prayers at the temple of Maa Samleswari. He also interacted with the large gathering of pilgrims and then visited the construction site of the heritage pond complex, podium, queue management system, cloakroom, and other associated components of the project. He directed the engineers to speed up the work so that it should be completed in time.
After visiting the plaza area with the heritage welcome gates under construction on three sides, Pandian surveyed the heritage corridor under construction. The 5T Secretary asked the officers to project local heritage in an attractive manner.
Pandian also inspected the vending zones, information counter, pilgrim facility, temple facility center, and an iconic watch tower which are under construction. He stressed adequate shade by plantations and asked the engineers to expedite the procurement of all finishing items.
Moving on to the riverfront area, Pandian instructed the finalisation of the design for an iconic foot-over bridge and to expedite the progress of pitching and the riverfront column foundation works. The 5T secretary also visited the crematorium construction site and instructed the authorities to design the colours with lighter themes and to celebrate the human spirit.
Pandian also interacted with local people and took feedback from them on various developmental issues.
The SAMALEI project is being executed under the 5T initiative.
The Principal Secretary of the Works Department, the Sambalpur Collector, the managing director of OBCC and other senior officers, and the president of the temple trust board were present during the visit.
