Vijayawada, September 26, 2013: With only 10 days to go for Dasara festivities to commence, arrangements are going on at a brisk pace. Roads leading to the Kanakadurga temple are being spruced up for the occasion. Barricading works have gained momentum.

Notwithstanding the Samaikyandhra agitation, the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam is making arrangements with an estimation that not less than 12 lakh devotees will throng the temple during the festival.

Formation of queues, Annadanam, water supply, ghat road electrification, cloakrooms, chappal stand, toilets, and temporary dressing rooms are some of the arrangements that are being made for the devotees.

The devasthanam authorities are making arrangements for a hassle-free darshan. Apart from free darshan, the temple authorities are making arrangements for the Rs.50, Rs.100, and Rs.250 ticket queue lines. While the Rs.50 and Rs.100 ticket queue lines begin from Vinayaka temple, the queue line for Rs.250 ticket commences atop Indrakeeladri. The temple management is making arrangements for supplying water sachets and extending medical assistance to devotees in the queue.

The temple authorities have planned to open seven prasadam counters at Kanaka Durga Nagar and special counters at the railway and bus stations for the convenience of long-distance pilgrims visiting the temple.

The temple also plans to ply free bus services from the railway and bus stations to the bathing ghats and Vinayaka temple on the Canal Road. A free bus from Ashoka Pillar to Indrakeeladri would also be operated for the benefit of physically challenged and aged persons.

Every year, the temple invites tenders for as many as 22 works, including erection of shamiyanas, water supply, prasadam counter.

Sanitation will be accorded top priority as thousands of people throng Indrakeeladri during the festival, Temple Executive Officer K. Prabhakara Srinivas has said.

All the seven ghats in the city are being spruced up for the festival. Shower baths, toilets, information centres, dress changing rooms, and medical aid will be available at the ghats, he explains.

Source: The Hindu, September 26, 2013