Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam slashed rates of laddu prasadam and parking fee on Monday.
The devasthanam has decided to sell the laddu prasaam at ₹15 instead of ₹20. The laddu weight will also be 80 gm only. The temple management also decided to reduce the parking fee and collect ₹10 instead of ₹25. The temple management, however, did not roll back the revised rates regarding Sri Chakra laddu and tonsuring. The devasthanam management had announced hike in rates five days ago. The Devasthanam Trust Board also approved the rates.
However, there had been a uproar from various quarters and representations from the public forcing the temple management to reconsider its decision.
The devasthanam authorities haven’t taken any decision though there has been demand to bring down the antaralaya darshan ticket to ₹100 from ₹300 and laghu darshan ticket to ₹50 from ₹100. It may be recalled that the committee approved the proposals for a hike in the price of the smallest laddu prasadam from ₹10 to ₹20, Sri Chakra Laddu from ₹50 to ₹100, tonsuring ticket from ₹15 to ₹20 and ghat road parking lot fee from ₹5 to ₹25 for motorcycles and ₹50 for four-wheelers.
The basic fare for vehicle parking is higher than the basic fare charged at other places in the city, including the shopping malls. The committee proposed to increase laddu weight to 100 gm from 80 gm.
The administration also proposed to levy charges on devotees using the four lifts in the Mahamandapam and also increase the price of Sri Datta Anagha Devi Vratham from ₹50 to ₹100 but the committee had turned down the proposals.
