Odisha's flagship ABADHA scheme to redevelop Puri around the Jagannath Temple saw its budget balloon by over ₹1,000 crore due to design changes and additional projects added mid-course.
On record
The official record states: "The Odisha Cabinet attributed the increase to "changes...effected to the approved projects and some additional projects" — a "multiplicity of factors.""
Filed as "Under implementation with major cost overrun" and dated to 2017-18 launched; revised cost approved June 2023, this entry sits under the "Revised to ₹4,224.22 crore, up from ₹3,208 crore (~32% overrun)" line of the public accounts.
What to expect
- A ribbon-cutting photograph that aged faster than the structure.
- Maintenance records that exist in principle.
- A budget line that grew with the confidence of the project itself.
- A file number that outlived several transfer postings.
Sourcing
1 public source — news reports, RTI replies and civic archives — corroborate this entry. The citation trail is listed below for anyone who would like to follow up with the department concerned.
“The ribbon was imported. The follow-through was not.”— Blunderlust Editorial Desk
Sources
Visitor reviews
“Took a half-day off work to finally see it in person. You could build a small museum from the revised timelines alone.”
“Passed it on the bus for years and got off this time. It anticipated every future except the immediate one.”
“Went during the monsoon, which felt appropriate. The scaffolding has been up long enough to vote.”