Cuttack, May 5: The process to install steel structures to support cracked stone beams inside Puri Jagannath temple's prayer hall or Jagmohan has begun.

Orissa High Court's commission of inquiry has reported that stainless steel beams have been placed on the top of pillars erected for installation of a steel frame that will be used to support the cracked stone structure.

The court has appointed Nagendra Kumar Mohanty, an accredited engineer as well as an advocate, as commission of inquiry to make periodic on-the-spot assessment of the Jagmohan's renovation.

In its latest report, Mohanty states: "Foundation work at six locations has been done with fixation of stainless steel base plates and erection of 16 stainless steel columns (pillars)... They have been fabricated in single piece".

The roof of the Jagmohan rests mainly on four central stone columns (pillars) supported by eight stone beams. Cracks on these beams and pillars are posing a threat to the structure. Providing stainless steel box type portal frame support to the beams is vital as it covers 50 per cent of all conservation work.

According to the plan, 36 fabricated stainless steel beams of various shapes and sizes will be placed at the top of the 16 pillars to complete the support system. All these structures will be part of the box type portal frame.

So far, placing of six of the ten 5.5-metre long beams on four sides have been completed. However, the job to place seven of the ten 8-metre long beams on four sides of the hall is yet to be taken up. Work on another 16 beams has not been taken up, the report said.

After going through the work order it was estimated that 70 metric tonnes of stainless steel was required for the installation of the portal frame, but there is fresh need for another 30 metric tonnes of the material. The state works department is on the job to install the stainless steel portal frame inside the Jagmohan for Rs 3.71 crores.

"All materials have been received and fabrication work is on at Pennar Industry, Hyderabad, and modification required as per the site condition is being done at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Campus in Bhubaneswar. All fabricated materials will reach Puri within 8 to 10 days from today," Mohanty said in his report submitted on Tuesday.

In an affidavit, chief engineer (buildings) Satya Ranjan Sethi said: "The work is making exact progress as per schedule and is likely to be completed by June 2".

In an affidavit Archaeological Survey of India (Bhubaneswar Circle), Superintendent, H.A. Naik, said: "All efforts are being made by the ASI and other executing agencies like public works department and temple administration to complete the work by June 2".

Chief Justice Vineet Saran will visit the Puri Temple on Sunday to inspect the progress of renovation of Jagmohan.

The court has been monitoring the Jagmohan's renovation following Cuttack resident Abhisek Das' PIL for for effective and timely completion of its repair filed the PIL.