Engineering a Miracle

HIDCO Chief Engineer Suman Neogy on the groundbreaking construction and design of Bengal's sacred architectural marvel

- SUKANYA DAS

The Jagannath Dham in Digha stands as a testament to modern engineering harmonising with ancient architectural principles. Its rapid construction and unique structural design have garnered significant attention, especially given the challenging coastal environment. Suman Neogy, Chief Engineer at HIDCO, talks of the intricate engineering and construction aspects of this ambitious project, exploring the innovations that allowed for its swift completion and robust resilience

How long did the construction take from concept to completion?

Three years — this is an extraordinary feat, if we take the sheer scale, scope and various complexities of the project. Typically, a temple of this scale, especially with such heavy stone cladding, would take seven to eight years. Modern sequencing, prefabrication, and rigorous planning all converged to make this possible.