Cuttack, Oct. 2: The city is set to get its first welcome gate at a place near Chandi Mandir.
The concrete structure will be the first-of-its-kind initiative to showcase the "rich tradition" of this, the oldest city of Odisha.
The district administration has come up with proposals for a permanent welcome arch at an estimated cost of Rs 70 lakh. The roads and buildings division of the public works department (PWD) has already invited tenders for construction of the gate.
"The structure will be 22ft high and there will be road clearance of 14 metres on the existing two-lane road near the main temple," said PWD's executive engineer Pramod Nayak. He added that the project would be completed by the middle of next year.
Pictures by Badrika Nath Das
Another PWD official told The Telegraph that the welcome arch would be a visual treat for visitors as well as residents of the city.
Councillor of ward No. 10 Gyanaranjan Swain said Cuttack MP Bhatruhari Mahatab was interested in coming up with a gigantic structure that would be a centre of attraction in the city.
"Mahandi Coalfields Limited is funding the landmark project under its corporate social responsibility activity," said Swain. Initially, designs for the gate were submitted with proposals of various avatars (incarnations) and veshas (forms) of Goddess Chandi, the presiding deity of the city. But later, a simpler design was submitted for approval.
More than 15 lakh devotees throng the temple every year, while there is heavy turnout of devotees during Durga Puja.
The temple trust has already roped in Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) for carrying out restoration of the temple at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore.
As part of the construction of the welcome gate, the premises surrounding the main Chandi Mandir are also being renovated, while necessary measures are also being taken for improvement of the drainage system, installation of barricades, a renovation of the yajna mandap, kitchen and shops in the temple complex. "We welcome the move to build a welcome gate," said Kishore Pradhan, a resident of Chandi Mandir area.
