Vijayawada: Minister for endowments Vellampalli Srinivas Rao said that the government is taking all steps for the smooth conduct of Dasara Utsavalu atop Kanaka Durga temple from October 7 to 15.
The minister conducted a review meeting with the Dasara Festival Coordination Committee on the arrangements. He said that each day, 10,000 devotees would be allowed darshan of which 4,000 would be allowed free darshan. He said that darshan tickets would be issued online.
Rao said that due to Covid-19, the Bhavani Deeksha ritual would not be held in Durga temple and instructed endowments department Commissioner Vani Mohan to write to the districts regarding Bhavani Deeksha and spread awareness about online tickets, queue lines, parking and other facilities on social media platforms.
District collector J. Nivas asked Vijayawada Municipal Corporation officials to appoint staff in three shifts in order to provide better services to the devotees. VMC Commissioner Prasanna Venkatesh said that 650 personnel would be specially deployed at Durga temple during the festivities. Vijayawada Police Commissioner Battina Srinivasulu sought corona rapid tests on all employees, staff and workers.
Temple EO D. Bhramaramba said that there would be three queue lines at the entrance, which would be expanded to five lines at OM point.
MLA Malladi Vishnu, temple chairman Paila Sominaidu, mayor Rayana Bhagyalakshmi, deputy mayors Bellam Durga and Avutu Sailaja Reddy, joint collector Dr. K. Madhavilatha, JC (Welfare) Mohan Kumar and officials from various departments were present in the meeting.
