Southern Railway has planned to put in place a slew of arrangements at Kumbakonam ahead of the ‘Mahamaham’ festival, to be held in February 2016.
Comprehensive preparations would be made to provide necessary facilities for the devotees visiting the town.
In addition to operating special trains in connection with the festival held once in 12 years, temporary shelters would be constructed near the Kumbakonam station, Southern Railway General Manager Rakesh Misra said on Thursday.
Accompanied by Tiruchi railway divisional officers, Mr. Misra carried out a detailed inspection of the Kumbakonam railway station ascertaining the facilities available there and additional requirements.
He told The Hindu over phone that a lot of planning would be done to put in place a host of arrangements well ahead of the festival as it would attract a large number of devotees.
The railway would operate several special trains to Kumbakonam from different destinations, he said. “We are planning to build temporary shelters outside the Kumbakonam railway station for the devotees to take rest.”
It would put up more catering stalls besides providing temporary toilets. Additional railway staff would be posted at Kumbakonam to look after the facilities provided to the devotees. The railway station would be brought under enhanced surveillance through installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) units. These units would be connected to a centralised place at the station from where movements inside the station and its vicinity would be closely monitored. Mr. Misra said additional Railway Protection Force personnel would be posted at the station.
He said the Ponmalai – Thanjavur track doubling works would not be completed before the festival.
