Suggestions from public can be studied before finalising plan: Collector
: The process of preparing a road map for designing a master plan to develop Rameswaram as a major pilgrim centre on a par with Tirupati and Madurai has begun.
It was in line with the direction of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which had observed recently that Rameswaram had been neglected all these years, asking the Chief Secretary to consider the feasibility of framing a scheme for the development of the pilgrim centre and the shrine there on a par with Tirupati and Madurai.
Directing the Chief Secretary to submit the Action Taken Report (ATR) by December this year, the court had said that the exercise should be undertaken keeping in view the needs of pilgrims, tourists and local people and in the light of a report by the court-appointed Commissioners as expeditiously as possible and implemented on a time-bound basis.
Speaking to ‘The Hindu,' Collector V. Arun Roy, who had already undertaken a couple of visits to Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram to ascertain the prevailing conditions, facilities being provided to the pilgrims and problems faced by them on various aspects, said on Thursday that it had been decided to prepare a Master Plan to transform Rameswaram as a major pilgrim destination on par with some of the leading and well maintained temples in the country.
He added that the issue could be divided into three parts such as facilities and maintenance of temple and its premises; amenities and tourist-friendly facilities outside the temple; and overall development of Rameswaram town.
The first part was the crowd management inside the Rameswaram temple, polishing the idols, chariots, streamlining the system of holy bath at 22 theerthams (inside the temple), improving the hygiene conditions, provision of basic amenities for those taking bath, ensuring transparency over collection of fee for taking holy bath and other factors.
The basic facilities for tourists and pilgrims at the outer perimeter of the temple was the second part. Establishing accommodation for tourists, modernising the existing facilities, providing parking lot for tourists vehicles, facilities at the Agnitheertham shore for those taking holy dip in the sea, establishing eco tourism ventures could be covered in the second part.
Mr. Roy added that the third part could include proposals such as creation of parking lots wherever required, construction of bath-cum-toilet complexes in different locations, development of roads in Rameswaram and its peripheries, beautification of the town, day-to-day maintenance affairs of the town, effective and trouble-free traffic plan, increasing bus connectivity for visiting other places of tourist interest in Rameswaram, introduction of systematic and transparent management for maintenance of tourist friendly facilities. The suggestions from public could also be studied before finalising the master plan.
He added that several departments and agencies including Department of Tourism, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board, Municipal administration and other local bodies in Rameswaram island would be involved in the process.
