Construction of a sheltered pathway and laying of stone pavements inside the Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple would be completed soon.
The Temple Trust has taken up the project to erect the sheltered pathway and stone pavements from the Thousand Pillar Mandapam to Udayavar Sannidhi inside the temple complex at an estimated cost of Rs.14 lakh.
Devotees, particularly senior citizens, find it difficult to traverse this open stretch especially during summer as they to walk over hot sand. The erection of the sheltered pathway would greatly benefit devotees.
The pathway is being provided with a polycarbonate sheet roof, said C.Jayaram, Joint Commissioner of the temple. While the work on erecting the sheltered pathway has already been completed, work on laying pavement stones was still underway.
A stretch of cement concrete flooring is being replaced with stones and already the work has been completed for a stretch of about 300 metres.
Mr.Jayaraman said the stones that were removed from the by-lanes, where the Tiruchi Corporation was laying concrete roads, were purchased for the purpose.
The stones were being cut into size to suit the requirements inside the temple complex.
Mr.Jayaraman also disclosed that work on building a rest house, sanctioned at a cost of Rs.21 lakh, at the Maduraiveeran grounds has been completed but for getting the underground drainage connection. A staff quarters, sanctioned at a cost of Rs.43 lakh, was also being built in the town.
With the State government already announcing that a sound and light show would be introduced in the temple, the authorities were in the process of identifying a suitable site for the purpose. The department is expected to call for tenders inviting private parties to produce the show.