Kolkata, July 26, 2013: With devotees often facing a problem to negotiate through the crowd, the state government has decided to remodel the entrance to the Dakshineswar temple.

The government will build a walkway from the Metro station, coming up beside the Dakshineswar station, to the temple gate so that people do not have to take the congested road with shops on either side to offer prayers.

As the Metro station is being built at a height, passengers coming out of the station can use the elevator and then take the walkway to reach the temple gate.

Urban development minister Firhad Hakim said: "Once the new Metro station is set up, the walkway will also be built so that passengers can easily reach the entry gate. We are planning to inaugurate the walkway on January 1."

The government also has plans to shift the shops to a first-floor level so that the road can be used by cars and pedestrians. However, people will be able to access the shops selling puja items from various points on the walkway. Pedestrians, on the other hand, can take an elevator to reach the shops.

Kushal Choudhury, trustee and secretary of Dakshineswar Kali Temple, said the new plan was made to make the entrance safer for the pilgrims. "Often there is huge rush at the entrance as the road is crowded and shops occupy a good part of the pavement, making it difficult for people to walk. Lorries and other vehicles also use the road a portion of which belongs to the railways."

He added that chief minister Mamata Banerjee had suggested beautification of the area during her last visit to the temple. This apart, a four-storey building is being planned on the left side of the temple gate, close to the parking lot, that will house sweet shops and a dormitory.

The walkway is pegged at Rs 43 crore and will be built under the JNNURM scheme. A 2.5km long flyover connecting Ramnagar and Katapukur will also be built in southwest Kolkata.

The state government is planning to remodel the entry point of the Dakshineswar Temple and for that a walkway is being planned, so that once the Dakshineswar temple becomes functional then it will help people to reach the temple easily through an elevated track.

As the metro station is expected to be at a height, so the passengers coming out of the metro station will be using the elevator and take the walkway to reach the temple gate. Firhad Hakim, minister for urban development said that now the entry point is congested as many shops are located on both sides of the entrance. "For that once the new metro station is set up the walkway will be set up, so the passengers can easily reach the entry gate. We are planning to inaugurate the walkway on January 1."

The government has plans to shift the present shops to a first floor level, so that the road can be easily used by the cars and pedestrians. Even at various points there will be access from the walkways to reach the shops selling various puja items and even the pedestrians from ground level can also reach the shops through elevators.

Kushal Choudhury, trustee and secretary of Dakshineswar Kali Temple said that the new plan was made to make the entrance safe for the pilgrims. "Often there is huge rush at the entrance, as the road is crowded and shops occupy part of the pavement, making it difficult for people to walk. Again there are lorries and other vehicles that use the road. A part of the entrance road belongs to railways."

Choudhury said that when last time the chief minister Mamata Banerjee had visited the temple she had suggested to make amends so that the entire area can be beautified and accordingly plans were made. Moreover, a new four storey building is planned on the left side of the temple gate close to the parking which will house sweet shops and dormitory.

Now with the metro station going to come up next to the existing Dakshnieswar station, the walkway is planned at a cost of Rs 43 crore which will be funded under JNNURM project. As there is a grand congregation on January 1, so the state government has plans to inaugurate it on the same day when Kalpataru Utsav will be observed.

Moreover, the state urban development department is going to build a flyover which will be 2.5 km long connecting Ramnagar and Katapukur in South-west Kolkata. The flyover is expected to come up within a year and for it the estimated cost is Rs 350 crore which will also be funded under JNNURM project.

Source: The Times of India, July 26, 2013