In a bid to preserve the spiritual sanctity of Puri, Odisha’s Law and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan announced on June 8, 2025, that the sale of non-vegetarian food and alcoholic beverages will be banned within a 2 km radius of the Sri Jagannath Temple. This directive applies to establishments like bars, liquor shops, and non-veg food outlets along the Grand Road (Badadanda), which connects the main temple to the Gundicha Temple.

The decision forms part of a broader initiative to safeguard Puri’s status as a major pilgrimage destination and reinforce its cultural and religious heritage. During a press briefing in Bhubaneswar, Harichandan affirmed that the temple’s precincts will no longer house any non-vegetarian or liquor-serving venues .

While the minister did not specify the implementation timeline, the government aims to align the ban with ongoing urban development efforts. These include standardizing building facades and heights along the Grand Road and expanding facilities like the recently inaugurated Shri Jagannath Heritage Corridor to improve pilgrim experiences.

Although the measure enjoys public backing—mirroring earlier restrictions on tobacco, paan, and gutkha consumption within temple premises—it is expected to impact adjacent businesses. Enforcement details are awaited, but the policy signals a deliberate move toward creating a more devout environment in harmony with Puri's revered spiritual traditions.