VIJAYAWADA: After facing severe criticism from devotees, the trust board committee of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam has reduced the price of Laddu prasadam from `20 to `15 and toll fee for two-wheelers has been reduced to `10 from `25.A week ago, the temple trust board committee had revised the prices of Laddu prasadam by increasing the existing weight from 80 gms to 100 gms and fixed the price at `20. In addition to that, the authorities also revised the toll fee for two-wheelers from `5 to `25 and for four wheelers from `25 to `50 on the ghat road.
Several Hindu organisations submitted a representation to temple executive officer A Surya Kumari seeking her to reduce the revised prices of various sevas in the temple so as not to burden devotees.
In this regard, the temple trust board committee convened a meeting on Monday and marginally revised the prices of Laddu prasadam and toll free for two-wheelers. However, several devotees expressed their dissatisfaction with the temple trust board’s decision to increase the price of Laddu (80 grams) to `15 from the existing `10.
Earlier, the temple EO announced that the weight of Laddu will be increased to 100 grams from 80 grams and price was decided at `20. “The hasty decision of the temple trust board is widening the gap between the temples and the devotees.
At least now, the temple authorities should focus on improving the basic amenities and provide cottage facility to the devotees near the hill shrine rather than revising the prices for various sevas in the temple,’’ said K Mallikharjuna Rao, a devotee from Kurnool.When TNIE contacted temple trust board member L Durga Prasad, he said that due to increase in the prices of essential commodities, the committee took the decision to hike the price of the laddu as well as other temple services.