The newly elected BJP government in Odisha approved a proposal on Wednesday to re-open all four gates of Puri’s Shree Jagannath Temple. Additionally, the government announced a special fund of Rs 500 crore to address critical issues concerning the temple. The entire cabinet, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, will travel to Puri on Wednesday night to witness the opening of the four gates on Thursday morning.

“The state government has decided to re-open all four gates of the Puri Jagannath temple early tomorrow morning, with all ministers present,” announced Mohan Charan Majhi after approving the proposal. “Devotees will have access to the temple through all four gates.”

Majhi further explained that the closure of the gates had caused problems for devotees, and the recent decision would make their visits easier.

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The BJP had also pledged to open all the gates of Jagannath Temple in its assembly poll manifesto. The previous BJD administration had kept the four gates closed since the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing entry through only one gate, despite demands for all gates to be opened.

Earlier on Wednesday, four-time MLA and tribal leader from Keonjhar district Mohan Charan Majhi was sworn in as Odisha’s first BJP chief minister at a ceremony in Bhubaneswar. The event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers, and chief ministers.

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