Puri, Friday, 5 September 2025.
Last Wednesday the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee approved a pilot ‘Dhadi Darshan’ queue at the Natamandap, introducing AC‑fitted interior routing, ramps, barricaded lanes and a nine‑member supervisory panel led by the Puri District Collector. Fourteen sub‑committees were formed to professionalize governance—covering finance, rituals, the Ratna Bhandar treasury, appeals and security—while former CAG Girish Chandra Murmu will chair the newly created security sub‑committee, signalling an unprecedented emphasis on safety and integrity. The trial aims to smooth throughput, protect ritual protocols and improve accessibility for elderly and differently‑abled visitors; an SOP will follow the pilot. For theme‑park and attractions professionals, this is a live case of heritage sites adopting commercial visitor‑management tools (AC routing, lane design, stakeholder governance) to balance throughput and conservation. The most intriguing fact: a high‑profile security lead paired with ASI‑approved air conditioning shows heritage custodians are prioritizing both ceremonial sanctity and operational professionalism and measurable crowd metrics.