Puri, July 3: Tourists had a harrowing experience while watching rath yatra from the rooftop galleries, run by Odisha Tourism Development Corporation Limited (OTDC), because of poor management and lack of facilities.
The devotees alleged that the tourist body had betrayed them while charging money with an assurance of providing them with a good view of the chariots on Grand Road. But, the tourists neither had a good view of the deities, nor good service at the galleries.
There are problems galore mainly at the Jagannath Ballav Math rooftop, about 1.5km from the main temple and 3km from the Gundicha.
The OTDC had made it operational last year. The tourists alleged that its rooftop never provided a good view of the deities and the revelry going on along with the chariots on Grand Road.
"It is sheer betrayal by the authorities. I booked tickets for my family and myself at the Jagannath Ballav Math rooftop, thinking that we would have great time watching the festival with ease away from the crowd. I spent a lot of money. But now, I feel cheated," said Binayak Mishra, a tourist.
The OTDC runs two rooftop galleries along the Grand Road - the Grand Central rooftop and the Jagannath Ballav Math rooftop. While the Grand Central rooftop is close to the temple with 120 seats, the Jagannath Ballav Math facility is 1.5km from the main shrine with 250 seats. According to OTDC records, the Grand Central seats were sold out both for rath yatra and Bahuda, while the Jagannath Ballav Math rooftop was able to sell only about 50 seats. The OTDC collects Rs 4,000 per ticket at the Grand Central, while at the Jagannath Ballav Math, one has to pay Rs 2,000.
Sources said the tourist body had received a number of complaints about the poor services and view of the Jagannath Ballav Math last year.
"The Jagannath Ballav Math rooftop is not at a strategic location. It can't provide a good view of Bada Danda. This year, there had been a plan to close it down. But at the last moment, the authorities decided to keep it open," said an OTDC insider.
Moreover, the OTDC decided to install an LED display for the tourists at the Jagannath Ballav Math rooftop to overcome this problem. But here again, they failed to live up to their promise. "I was assured of comfortable seats with LED display and good refreshments. But, there is nothing at all. I am very disappointed with the service," said Narayan Ojha, a tourist from Deogarh.
The OTDC provides such services as part of its rath yatra tour package every year. Records revealed that the authorities had earned Rs 6.5 lakh from the two rooftop galleries last year. While the Grand Central facility provided revenue of Rs 4.75 lakh, the Jagannath Ballav rooftop earned the OTDC Rs 1.73 lakh.
A senior official of the corporation, requesting anonymity, said they had tried to provide the tourists a good time during the festival. "Based on the complaints last year, we improved the services this year. But we have no idea why it has failed to attract more tourists this time. We will improve the services," said the official.
