Arrangements are in full swing for the annual Ratha Saptami festival scheduled to be organised on January 26 at Sri Suryanarayana Swamy temple at Arasavalli as the government has asked all the departments to work in unison to ensure hassle-free darshan for the one lakh pilgrims who are expected to take part in the festival.
The Police Department is putting up barricades at the shrine to regulate the devotee flow in queue lines. Visakhapatnam Range DIG A. Ravi Chandra, Srikakulam SP A.S. Khan and others reviewed the arrangements and interacted with the temple Executive Officer, R. Pushpanatham, and other officials here on Friday.
The police inquired about various queue lines being set up for Rs.100 ticket holders and people who opt for free darshan. The temple authorities informed that facilities like cloak rooms and temporary parking areas had been created. According to them, auto rickshaws would be operated for elderly people and differently abled persons free of cost .
Additional staff would be engaged at the Prasadam counters. Doctors and medical staff would be discharging their duties at the first aid centres. District Medical and Health Department will operate 108 vehicles near the temple. Further, swimmers will be deployed at Indra Pushkarani. NGOs will assist the temple authorities in providing drinking water to devotees waiting in the queue lines.
Later, DIG held another meeting with senior officials at SP’s office . “We are giving a top priority to easy traffic flow in Arasavalli routes,” he said.
