Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced a significant Rs 330 crore investment to revive and modernise the Ekamra beautification project at the 11th-century Shree Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar.
Launched in 2019 by the previous BJD government, the Ekamra Kshetra Amenities and Monument Revival Action (Ekamra) project—aimed at restoring the spiritual and architectural grandeur of the “Ekamra Kshetra”—had stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ekamra Kshetra refers to the abode of Lord Shiva at Lingaraj temple, which is one of the oldest temples in Odisha.
While attending the Maha Shivaratri festival celebrations at Lingaraj Temple on Sunday night, the Chief Minister emphasised that Puri’s Jagannath Temple and Bhubaneswar’s Lingaraj Temple serve as the twin pillars of Odia spirituality.
The CM reiterated the state government’s commitment to transforming Odisha into a premier destination for spiritual tourism through these heritage restoration efforts.
“The Ekamra Kshetra will be developed at an investment of Rs 330 crore,” the CM said.
ଆଜି ପବିତ୍ର ମହାଶିବରାତ୍ରି ତଥା ଜାଗର ଅବସରରେ ଶ୍ରୀ ଲିଙ୍ଗରାଜଙ୍କ ଦର୍ଶନ କରି ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦ ଭିକ୍ଷା କରିବା ସହ ରାଜ୍ୟବାସୀଙ୍କ ମଙ୍ଗଳ କାମନା କଲି।
ଲିଙ୍ଗରାଜ ଭଜନ ମଣ୍ଡପରେ ଆୟୋଜିତ 'ସାଂସ୍କୃତିକ ମହୋତ୍ସବ-ତଥା-ଭଜନ ସମାରୋହ' ରେ ସାମିଲ ହୋଇ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଳୁମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ଭଜନର ଆଧ୍ୟାତ୍ମିକ ଆନନ୍ଦ ଅନୁଭବ କରିବା ଏକ ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ଅନୁଭୂତି ଥିଲା।… pic.twitter.com/wmc790Yznb— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) February 15, 2026
Majhi said, “In the first phase of the Ekamra project, work worth Rs 180 crore would soon start for the development and beautification of Ekamra Kshetra. In the second phase, an interpretation centre will be established along with peripheral development work at an investment of Rs 150 crore.”
Law and Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan had earlier said that the previous executing agency has been disengaged, and the government is now targeting a completion date of March 2027.
Under the new roadmap, the Bindu Sagar tank will be redeveloped into a heritage lake, and a large statue of Lord Shiva will be installed as a central landmark of the project.
The Minister added that the government is working diligently to ensure all facets of the plan are finalised by the end of the 2026-27 financial year. This renewed push is expected to provide a seamless experience for pilgrims and tourists visiting one of Odisha’s oldest and most revered shrines.
“We are making efforts to complete the project by the end of the 2026-27 financial year,” he said.
While attending a programme organised by Ekamra Cultural Publishing House on the occasion of Maha Shivratri, the Chief Minister felicitated renowned singer Nitin Mukesh and several other artists and contributors from across the country for their significant achievements in the cultural sphere.
