Renovated Swarga Dwara Opened For Public Usage

Puri: The all new renovated Swarga Dwara in Puri has been opened for public from Today. The much revered Swarga Dwara was closed for redevelopment by the administration last year. The redevelopment includes its transformation into a modern crematorium with all state of the art facilities. Collector Samarth Verma today inaugurated it in the presence other senior officials.
Literally meaning the Gateway to Heaven, Swarga Dwara has been undergoing a transformation process for the last one year under Odisha Government’s ambitious 5T Initiative and as a part of the grand Heritage Corridor Project.

The transformation work for the Swarga Dwara was started in February 2020 with an aim to develop the centuries old Crematorium into a modern one and provide people the best amenities possible. Under the scope of 5T Initiatives, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had ordered for its development and the district administration started the work swiftly and entrusted the work to Orissa Bridge and Construction Corporation.

The project entails a state of the art Crematorium with all the facilities for a hassle free journey to the heaven. Keeping in mind the importance of the place and the increasing pressure on available facilities, it was decided that the place will be utilized with meticulous planning. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik himself made an important announcement by ordering the removal of the Samadhi of Biju Patnaik near Swarga Dwara thereby paving the way for a more spacious Crematorium.

The Swarga Dwara Development project entailed a massive two storied structure sitting on 1.3 acre land. The ground floor of the structure is having 28 funeral pyre platforms, wood storage facility and the wood counter. It also has sufficient space for rituals conducted before the cremation. The first floor of the structure houses the Manager’s Room, waiting hall for the people coming from various places and a cafeteria. There is an administration block which has space for seating of the officials. Keeping in view the need, a separate quarter for the Sankaracharya is also constructed. The open spaces have been landscaped with plants and greenery to suit the structure. V K Pandian, Secretary 5T Initiatives, had visited the construction site many a times and himself took interest in the speedy completion of the project. Works secretary Dr Krishan Kumar has also taken keen interest in the early completion of the project. The district administration has been proactive in its part and has actively participated in its development.

The structure has been constructed using pre cast materials and is one of its kind in the state. State run construction company OBCC has undertaken the redevelopment work keeping in mind the religious and cultural values attached to it. While the initial estimates were made for an expenditure of Five Crore rupees for the project, an amount of 6.37 Crore has been spent for the project.