Preparations Begin for 32-km Simhachalam Giri Pradakshina

Visakhapatnam:Comprehensive arrangements are being made for the annual Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Giri Pradakshina on July 28 and 29, with participation of lakhs of devotees.

Reviewing preparations at a meeting held here on Wednesday, district collector Abhishikth Kishore asked officials to organise the event with the same efficiency as the annual Chandanotsavam festival. Police commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi, GVMC commissioner Kethan Garg, joint collector Vidyadhari, devasthanam officials and representatives of various departments attended the meeting.

The 32-km circumambulation would commence at 4pm on July 28 after special rituals at the Toli Pavancha, though devotees might begin the walk earlier in the day.

The collector directed officials to arrange 50 queue lines and 100 iron stands for coconut breaking and additional counters to regulate crowds. A command and control centre will coordinate arrangements by different departments.

Drinking water, bio-toilets, sanitation services, rest areas, medical camps, ambulances, mobile medical units, street lighting, public address systems and control rooms would be provided along the route. Fifty water tanks would be installed, while rest areas will be set up at five-kilometre intervals.

Traffic management would include diversions, parking arrangements, signage and barricading. Special committees would oversee traffic within the city and its outskirts. National Highways officials, traffic police and roads department officials will jointly prepare a diversion plan for Hanumanthuwaka.

The feasibility of setting up temporary foot-over-bridges at highway crossings will also be examined.

APSRTC would operate special buses up to the Toli Pavancha point, and alternative parking areas will be identified to ease congestion. Fire and emergency services will remain on standby, while the fisheries department will deploy swimmers and boats near Appughar.

Police commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi directed officials to strengthen security by ensuring all CCTV cameras remain operational and by enhancing surveillance along the route to prevent theft and other untoward incidents. He also wanted officials to improve lighting in vulnerable stretches and provide rest points every five kilometres.

Devasthanam executive officer J. Venkatarao said a permanent shed was being erected at the Toli Pavancha at a cost of 150 lakh. He said adequate coconut-breaking counters and a command and control room would be set up at the foothills and that free darshan would be provided to devotees on July 29.

Officials from the endowments, GVMC, APSRTC, revenue, medical and health, fire services, electricity, roads and buildings, NH, fisheries and panchayat raj departments attended the review meeting.