A rope car is expected to become operational at Rathinagireeswarar Temple atop Ayyarmalai, about 10 km from Kulithalai in Karur district, by the end of October.
The facility was sanctioned for the Saivite temple at an estimated cost of ₹6.17 crore. Although work began in February 2017, it has made slow progress. The work was scheduled be completed by June last.
HR & CE Commissioner K. Phanindra Reddy, who inspected the progress of work at the temple on Monday, instructed officials and contractors to ensure completion of the project by October.
Situated at a height of 1,178 feet, the hill temple attracts a large number of devotees but involves a steep climb of 1,017 steps. With devotees seeking a rope car, the State government sanctioned it and appointed RITES Limited as project management consultant.
The upper terminal will be located near Amman Shrine on top of the hill, while the lower terminal will be near 100 Pillar Mandapam. Work on the lower terminal has been completed but for electrification, according to temple sources.
Nearly 60% of the civil works on the upper terminal has been completed, the sources added.
Mr. Phanindra Reddy was accompanied by HR&CE Joint Commissioners Sudarshan (Tiruchi) and M. Suryanarayanan (Karur) and Temple Executive Officer S. Ramamurthy.
