Bhubaneswar, 15 April (H.S.): The Odisha government is set to introduce a slot booking system for darshan at the revered Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, aiming to streamline the movement of devotees and enhance overall convenience.

Informing about the development, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said on Wednesday that the proposed system will be rolled out shortly. He clarified that both the existing queue-based darshan and the new slot booking facility will operate simultaneously.

“Efforts are being made to ensure that both line darshan and slot booking darshan continue in parallel to facilitate a hassle-free experience for devotees,” the minister said.

Under the proposed system, devotees opting for slot booking will be required to wait in a designated holding area before being allowed entry for darshan of the Holy Trinity. This arrangement is expected to help regulate crowd flow, particularly during peak hours and festive occasions. The traditional ‘Dhadi darshan’ system will continue alongside the new initiative.

Additionally, the government has initiated the tender process to install air-conditioning in the Nata Mandap to improve comfort for visitors.

The minister further informed that the slot booking facility will be introduced on a pilot basis initially, and necessary refinements will be made based on feedback and operational experience.

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda