Puri’s Gundicha Temple Reopening Postponed Over Safety Concerns

The much-anticipated reopening of the Gundicha Temple in Puri, scheduled for December 1, has been postponed after urgent safety concerns were raised by engineers and temple supervisors.

Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee had earlier announced that devotees would be welcomed back on December 1. However, subsequent inspections revealed that ongoing repair and conservation work required more time.

Reports from the Additional Chief Engineer highlighted unfinished tasks, including the installation of steel beams and the laying of khondolite stones inside the temple premises.

Senior supervisors also flagged the need for thorough cleaning and upgrades to the temple gardens and surrounding areas to ensure visitor safety.

Following these findings, the temple management committee advised delaying the reopening until all pending restoration work is completed.

Officials emphasised that structural stability and devotee safety must take precedence over timelines.

The decision reflects the administration’s cautious approach to heritage preservation, ensuring that devotees will return to a secure and well-maintained environment once restoration efforts are finalised.