Elaborate Arrangements Ahead of Madurai Kumbabhishekam
The Chithirai, Avani Moola and Masi streets have been declared no-parking zones from Wednesday evening until Thursday night, and vehicles will be diverted through the Ring Road
MADURAI: The local administration, police, revenue and HR&CE departments have worked in coordination to put in place elaborate arrangements for the Meenakshi Amman temple consecration ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, with measures taken to regulate traffic, ensure the safety of devotees and prevent overcrowding.
The Chithirai, Avani Moola and Masi streets have been declared no-parking zones from Wednesday evening until Thursday night, and vehicles will be diverted through the Ring Road.
Temporary bus stands have been set up at Palanganatham C2 roundabout, Ellis Nagar, Western Park Hotel, Goripalayam junction and the Theppakulam Pathinaarukaal Mandapam area.
Free parking facilities for devotees arriving in private vehicles have been provided at 55 locations, including Thamukkam grounds, Gandhi Museum and Madura College grounds.
Information boards carrying QR codes have been installed at major junctions to guide motorists to parking areas and routes leading to the temple.
Medical teams will operate 54 camps at 27 locations, with 12 ambulances, 70 doctors and 150 paramedical personnel deployed. A special 50-bed ward has also been kept ready at Rajaji government hospital to handle emergencies.
The Madurai City Municipal Corporation has made arrangements for drinking water and toilet facilities for devotees. Around 264 sanitation workers have been deployed in three shifts to maintain cleanliness in and around the temple and along the four streets surrounding it, according to the Corporation administration.
More than 400 fire personnel, 10 water tankers and emergency rescue vehicles have been deployed. Dedicated emergency corridors will be maintained for the movement of ambulances and fire tenders. Security surveillance along the four Masi streets has been strengthened with more than 433 CCTV cameras, besides AI-enabled facial-recognition cameras at 70 locations to monitor the movement of persons with previous criminal records.
To facilitate viewing of the consecration ceremony without overcrowding, 51 giant LED screens have been installed at bus stands, the railway station, parking areas and major roads for live relay of the rituals. The ceremony will also be telecast on television and streamed through the temple’s YouTube channel.
An integrated command and control centre has been set up to coordinate the arrangements. The toll-free numbers 1800-425-6781 and 1800-425-6782 will remain operational round-the-clock to assist the public.
