Anam Announces Improved Services at Indrakeeladri Shrine for Dasara
Rs 52.5 crore food facilities inaugurated as AP plans better amenities for devotees
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh government will introduce a slew of improved facilities for devotees at the Indrakeeladri shrine in Vijayawada before the Dasara festivities, Endowments minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said on Friday.
He made the announcement while inaugurating the Sri Kanakadurga Annaprasada Sadanam and Sri Durga Bhavani Mahaprasada Bhavanam, built with a combined cost of Rs 52.50 crore at the foothills of Indrakeeladri. The new facilities are aimed at handling the growing number of devotees visiting the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam.
The Annaprasada Sadanam has been constructed at a cost of Rs 26 crore over 5,400 square metres. It has a dining hall capable of accommodating 800 devotees at a time. Its ground floor houses a central store, food preparation area, and washrooms, besides access routes for vehicles from three sides.
The Rs 26.50-crore Mahaprasada Bhavan is spread over 3,600 square metres across four floors. It has prasadam counters and queue lines on the ground and first floors. The upper floors have facilities for preparing and packing pulihora, sweet pongal, and laddus, and storing them.
The minister said mechanised kitchens equipped with modern technology would be installed in the two buildings to ensure faster food preparation, while maintaining high hygiene standards.
In this context, he pointed out that nearly three crore devotees receive annaprasadam at temples across Andhra Pradesh every year.
Ramanarayana Reddy said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to examine the construction of a second ghat road to ease traffic congestion and facilitate emergency movement along the Indrakeeladri Hill. A feasibility study is under way for a 700-metre road from Kummaripalem. Tenders would be invited soon.
The minister said the government also plans to utilise the three acres of TTD land at Kummaripalem to construct a seven-storey building with multi-level parking and rooms to benefit around 15,000 devotees. A large Keshakhandana Hall will be built near the Durga Ghat.
Ramanarayana Reddy said there is a proposal for a 25-foot Adi Shankaracharya statue at the first bend of the existing ghat road.
Speaking on the occasion, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) said Dasara arrangements have already begun at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam, with the annual Sharannavaratri festivities approaching.
Officials said special arrangements are being made for the Sharannavaratri festival in coordination with the temple, police, municipal, and revenue departments. Continuous drinking water supply, milk, and prasadam distribution, along with sanitation and security, would receive priority.