Odisha CM rolls out Rs 330 cr to revive Ekamra beautification at Lingaraj temple, restarting second phase

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday announced a ₹330 crore package to revive and complete the long-pending Ekamra Kshetra Amenities and Monument Revival Action (Ekamra) project , giving fresh momentum to the comprehensive beautification, heritage conservation, and modernisation of the Shree Lingaraj Temple and the wider sacred zone of Bhubaneswar’s Old Town.

The announcement came after the chief minister, accompanied by his wife, offered prayers on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri at the 11th-century shrine. The Ekamra project, originally launched in 2019 by the previous BJD government, had lost momentum due to COVID-19 disruptions, contractor withdrawal, and land acquisition hurdles . Majhi said the revived initiative reflects the government’s renewed resolve to preserve Odisha’s spiritual heritage while transforming Bhubaneswar’s ancient temple quarter into a vibrant centre of religious and cultural tourism . He said the project will cover the entire Ekamra Kshetra, not just the Lingaraj temple complex, and will include redevelopment of prominent shrines such as Ananta Vasudeva, Kedar Gauri, Mukteswar, and Rajarani temples , besides numerous smaller temples and ancient mathas. Heritage streets, sacred water bodies, public plazas, pedestrian corridors, and cultural spaces will be integrated to create a cohesive spiritual and heritage tourism circuit .

Steeped in history and legend, the Lingaraj temple stands as one of the finest examples of Kalinga architecture . Built during the Somavamsi dynasty in the 11th century, the majestic tower rises over 180 feet and is surrounded by more than 100 subsidiary shrines . Dedicated to Lord Shiva and worshipped here as Harihara , a composite form of Shiva and Vishnu, the temple has for centuries remained the spiritual heart of Bhubaneswar , the famed ‘city of temples’. Festivals such as Maha Shivaratri, Ratha Yatra, and Ashokashtami draw massive crowds, underscoring the shrine’s enduring spiritual magnetism. Majhi said the Lingaraj temple, along with the Jagannath temple in Puri, forms the twin pillars of Odia spirituality , and the government is committed to strengthening pilgrim facilities and infrastructure across major religious centres.

Officials said the first phase of the Ekamra project has already been completed , laying a strong foundation for the next stage. This phase included widening of approach roads, pedestrian pathways, removal of encroachments, restoration of ancient shrines, landscaping, and architectural illumination . Basic pilgrim amenities such as drinking water facilities, public toilets, resting shelters, signage systems, drainage networks, and organised parking zones were upgraded, while heritage streets in the Old Town were redesigned to preserve traditional character and ensure smoother pedestrian flow. Initial redevelopment works were also carried out at the historic Bindu Sagar tank , including desilting, embankment strengthening, pathway construction, and lighting.

Under the revived plan, the ₹330 crore investment will primarily fund the second phase and remaining components . Of this, ₹180 crore will be spent on infrastructure development and crowd-management systems , while ₹150 crore will go towards setting up a modern interpretation centre, heritage corridors, and cultural spaces . Law and Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said the earlier executing agency had been disengaged after expressing unwillingness to continue, leading to prolonged delays. He said fresh tenders have been floated, a new agency appointed, and weekly monitoring reviews introduced to accelerate progress and resolve pending land issues. The project is targeted for completion by March 2027 , with major infrastructure works expected to finish before the end of the 2026–27 financial year .

The expanded blueprint promises to transform Bhubaneswar’s Old Town into a dynamic cultural and spiritual destination, with plans for three major public plazas, Ekamra Van medicinal garden, enhanced pedestrian corridors, and upgraded public amenities . The ambitious redevelopment of Bindu Sagar will incorporate hydrodynamic cavitation technology and bio-remediation , along with revival of ancient water channels such as Devipadahara, Papanasini, Godabari, and Kotitirtha , recreating the sacred water network that once defined the temple city.

Later in the evening, during a cultural programme organised by the Ekamra Cultural Publishing House, the chief minister felicitated renowned singer Nitin Mukesh and several artistes , adding a celebratory note to the spiritually charged occasion.