VIJAYAWADA: Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam’s trust board committee has decided to turn the greenery stretch adjacent to the ghat road at Indrakeeladri into a parking lot. The greenery stretch was recently developed by temple authorities at an estimated cost of `11 lakh. The committee, which met on Tuesday, said that the forest department has already surveyed the land and proposals would be designed for moving the green stretch on the ghat road.
Some part of CV Reddy Charities (dormitory shed) would be reserved for marriage ceremonies and other celebrations, M Padma, Temple Executive Officer, said. Auto-rickshaws further would not be permitted on the ghat road due to space constraints, she informed. “In this regard, instructions are given to the engineering department to improve basic amenities at the dormitory shed accordingly.
A proposal is also considered to lease out some space on second, third and fourth floors of Mallikarjuna Maha Mandapam for devotees. Safety lockers would be provided for the devotees to deposit their valuable items,” she added.When asked about the poor sanitary conditions at Durga Ghat, Padma said that the area was under the purview of temple authorities, along with the VMC and the irrigation department. A meeting will be convened shortly with the respective departments to improve basic amenities at the ghat, she said.