Questions have been raised about the maintenance of Yatri Nivas in Srirangam after complaints that its cottages appear to be in various stages of disrepair.
Built at a cost of ₹47.09 crore on 6.40 acres on Panchakarai Road on the banks of the Coleroon, the Yatri Nivas has facilities to accommodate around 1,000 guests. It was declared open by then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in 2014 with the objective of providing good accommodation at affordable tariff for devotees visiting Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam.
The Yatri Nivas was among the first projects to be announced by Jayalalithaa soon after she was elected from Srirangam constituency in the 2011 Assembly elections. She laid the foundation for the project in June that year.
Initially, it received a moderate response from devotees, but the momentum picked up gradually. The Yatri Nivas is now packed to capacity on weekends, public holidays and festival days. It gets a regular stream of visitors from across the country, even from New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
Of growing concern is the neglected state of the cottages. They are damp, the plasters and paint are peeling off, and some have developed cracks. Devotees have also noted mould infestation and fungi. The feedback: poor maintenance. While cottages located near the entrance are good, those located at the back are neglected, visitors say.
Apoorva Varma, Tourism Secretary, who visited the Yatri Nivas accompanied by Collector K. Rajamani recently, reportedly pointed out the defects and drew the attention of the officials to improper maintenance.
Mr. Rajamani told The Hindu that it was one of the best infrastructure offering accommodation for devotees at affordable tariff. He had received representations from guests seeking rectification of some problems. The facility had to be preserved for serving pilgrims for many years. Hence, steps would be taken to carry out repair and maintenance at the earliest.
