Bhubaneswar, Jan 18 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated the much-awaited Shree Mandir Parikrama Prakalpa, also called Shree Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project, amid the chants of hymns by the priests in Puri.

Coming days ahead of the Jan 22 inauguration of Ram temple in Ayodhya, thousands of devotees gathered on Grand Road, braving light rain and the winter chill, to witness the unveiling of the Rs 800-crore project in the presence of Puri king Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb.

The key feature of the project is devotees can get a clear view of the Meghanada Pacheri (outer wall of the shrine) and 214ft-high main temple by standing at the corridor site. The project will also provide facilities like Parikrama Marg, greenery, landscaping and washrooms.