Bhubaneswar: Residents of Puri will soon be able to avail a special darshan facility at the revered Jagannath Temple (Srimandir) through a new Aadhaar-based entry system designed to provide a more convenient and streamlined temple visit experience.
The initiative is being developed in collaboration with the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) and aims to enable eligible local residents to enter the temple premises by scanning their Aadhaar cards. The arrangement is expected to help Puri residents avoid long queues, particularly during periods of heavy pilgrim footfall and major religious festivals.
Under the proposed system, Aadhaar-based verification will be used to identify genuine residents of Puri and facilitate their access through a dedicated entry mechanism. Authorities believe the technology-driven solution will make darshan more convenient for locals while improving crowd management within and around the temple complex.
Officials have stated that adequate safeguards are being incorporated into the system to prevent misuse and ensure that only eligible residents of Puri can avail themselves of the facility. Verification measures and data authentication protocols are expected to be implemented to maintain transparency and integrity in the process.
The initiative comes as part of ongoing efforts to enhance pilgrim services and improve the overall management of one of India’s most visited pilgrimage destinations. The Jagannath Temple attracts millions of devotees every year, and crowd management remains a critical challenge, particularly during major events such as the annual Rath Yatra.
By providing a dedicated and efficient darshan facility for local residents, temple authorities aim to balance the needs of devotees visiting from across the country with those of the people of Puri, who maintain a deep cultural and spiritual connection with the shrine.
The Aadhaar-based system is expected to be introduced after the completion of technical integration and verification procedures, marking another step toward the use of digital technology in temple administration and public service delivery.
-OdishaAge
