VIJAYAWADA: Minister for Water Resources Management Devineni Umamaheswara Rao said that fool proof arrangements are being made by the officials to conduct the 11-day Dasara festival on a grand note at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam, atop Indrakeeladri Hill.
Addressing first coordination meeting of Dasara festival at sub-collectorÂ’s office here on Thursday, Umamaheswara Rao directed the officials to focus on pilgrim friendly measures rather than concentrating on revenue improvement for the Kanaka Durga temple as thousands of devotees from other parts of the State will visit the shrine during the festivity.
Crucial decisions will be taken for the smooth conduct of the festival in the next meeting to be held with minister for endowments and chief secretary of endowments, he said.
Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas said Dasara celebrations in Vijayawada gained prominence after Mysore Dasara celebrations. He said the officials should arrange a procession of presiding deity Goddess Kanakadurga on Elephant. The MP also stressed the need for crowd control management using technology adopted during the Krishna Pushkaralu and Mallikharjuna Maha Mandapam should be made operational by the temple officials.
Collector Babu A said officials should act in coordination to make success Dasara celebrations. He said VIP darshan would be arranged from Punnami ghat. Likewise Krishnaveni, Padmavathi, Durga ghat and Pavitra sangamam ghats will be spruced up for the convenience of devotees.
ZP chairperson Gadde Anuradha said greenery should be developed around the temple premises. She said that the darsan tickets price should be within the reach of common man. MLC Buddha Venkanna said that queue lines should be arranged in Arjun street instead of canal road to prevent inconvenience to vehicle users.