BJD MP Subhasish Khuntia Friday urged the Centre to ensure a hassle-free ‘darshan’ mechanism exclusively for permanent residents of Puri at the Jagannath Temple, saying they are struggling to access the shrine amid overwhelming tourist congestion.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Khuntia said Puri is not just a city but an international tourist and pilgrimage hub and the living presence of lord Jagannath.

The Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor was built because local residents made immense sacrifices, losing land, homes and livelihoods, yet standing firmly behind the project with devotion, he said.

“From Rath Yatra to Chandan Yatra, from daily rituals to emergency arrangements, it is the people of Puri who shoulder the responsibility so the world can have darshan.

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