The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment has planned to lay a road on the Viralimalai — a hillock on the Tiruchi — Madurai National Highway. The Sri Subramnanyaswamy Temple is located atop the hillock.
A contour survey is being taken up all around the hillock for ascertaining the route for the road. A team of technicians have been drafted for the survey which commenced a few days ago. The survey would be completed within a week’s time at the end of which the Highways Department would prepare an estimate, according to official sources. The contour mapping is being done with three options and the one with most convenient and safest gradient would be chosen.
The temple with 407 steps is located at an altitude of about 110 feet from ground level. “It is difficult for the pilgrims, especially the aged, to reach the temple,” says the source explaining the need for the formation of road. The road facility would be provided only till the three-fourth of the altitude, as it would not be possible for laying it too close to the entrance.
The HR and CE Department has planned to set up 16 surveillance cameras at important places, including the ‘hundial’, with a large congregation of devotees during festival periods. “The safety of devotees will be ensured through this CCTV,” says R. Karunakaran, Executive Officer of the Pudukottai Group of Temples. It has been planned to build silver chariot for Sri Subramanyaswamy, in fulfilment of the wishes of the devotees. Pilgrims have been making a pertinent plea for building the silver chariot through donor work. Preliminary arrangements for drafting the design for the car had been taken up, he added.
HR and CE Department to build a road
16 surveillance cameras to be installed
