Madurai, Sep 16 (IANS) Elaborate arrangements have been completed in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai ahead of the Maha Kumbhabhishekham of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple on Thursday, when lakhs of devotees are expected to converge on the temple city.
The Tamil Nadu government has declared a local holiday in Madurai district to facilitate public participation in the consecration ceremony. The district administration, Madurai Corporation, temple authorities and police have coordinated measures covering darshan, transport, sanitation, healthcare, fire safety and crowd regulation.
Seven separate entry routes will be created for devotees carrying colour-coded passes, while barricades and signboards will be placed at important points to guide the crowds.
An integrated control room at Puthu Mandapam will monitor the temple and nearby streets through LED screens.
Surveillance has been strengthened with 241 new CCTV cameras and facial-recognition cameras installed at 70 locations. Police personnel will maintain intensive vigil across the temple zone and surrounding areas.
Temporary bus stands have been set up at five locations for devotees arriving from other districts. Additional special buses will be operated, and free parking will be available at 55 locations.
The civic body and temple administration have arranged continuous drinking-water supply, permanent and mobile toilets, and sanitation workers in shifts.
With intense heat expected during the morning, coconut-fibre mats will be laid along major streets to protect devotees from hot surfaces.
Special medical camps equipped with Advanced Life Support facilities will function inside the temple, on its rooftop and in surrounding areas. About 70 doctors, 108 ambulances and mobile medical teams will remain on standby to handle emergencies.
Fire and Rescue Services personnel, water tankers and rescue equipment will be deployed at strategic locations.
Alternative electricity connections and generators have also been arranged to prevent any disruption to the power supply.
Food Safety Department teams are inspecting food prepared for the ‘annadhanam’ by authorised organisations.
The final preparations were reviewed at a meeting chaired by special monitoring officers K. Veera Raghava Rao, P. Madhusudhan Reddy and C. Pazhani. HR&CE Commissioner T.G. Vinay and Madurai Collector Nishant Krishna were among those present. The officers later inspected the temple, security points and control room, directing all departments to work in coordination so that devotees could have darshan without inconvenience during Thursday’s major temple consecration ceremony.
For emergencies, the public may contact toll-free numbers 1800-425-6781 and 1800-425-6782.
–IANS
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