Construct cottages for devotees in Amaravati

Vijayawada: A huge chunks of lands belonging to the endowments department were given for the capital construction in Amaravati in land pooling scheme. But the officials have no plans to construct cottages for the devotees. The endowments department owned 1,136 acres in the capital location.

Now the government is chalking out plans to construct Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, one mosque and other religious prayer houses in the capital. But the devotees are demanding that the government take steps for the construction of accommodation in Amaravati. The need for the construction of cottages assumed significance following the development of Amaravati capital. 

Earlier, the state government proposed to construct cottages at Seethanagaram in Guntur district. But the proposal has not been materialised so far. Recently, the temple authorities proposed a guest house near Punnami Ghat for the benefit of officials and devotees.

A large number of devotees visit Durga temple and Mangalagiri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy (Panakala Swamy) temple daily from various parts of state and they are facing inconvenience due to lack of cottages.  

Thousands of devotees of Durga temple prefer to make a night halt on the temple premises and also in the city. But there are no accommodation available for the devotees in the city.

The devotees are staying in hotels by spending higher amounts. Now the devotees and employees of department demanding that the government allot temple lands for the construction of cottages.  

Nearly, 20,000 devotees visit the temple everyday and it touches almost one lakh on the auspicious occasions. Moreover, the devotees prefer to stay one day and visit the surroundings of Amaravati capital location. They have no option but to stay in private hotels by spending more money. 

Durga temple got recognition as second biggest pilgrimage centre after Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. But temple administration had failed to provide accommodation to devotees at a cheaper rate. 

CVR Charitable Trust donated land to Durga temple and TTD’s land is also available in addition to the lands of endowments department. The government has no proposals to construct cottages, said Trust Board member K Jaganmohan Rao. Interacting with The Hans India, he said that the government should construct cottages for the convenience of visiting devotees.