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Simhachalam temple road to get new lighting
Decades old problem of pilgrims facing stray dog attacks and thieves on Gopalapatnam-Simhachalam Temple Road has been solved with the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) taking up the lighting project at a cost of Rs 1.36 crore. The project is expected to be completed by end of this month.
Visakhapatnam: Decades old problem of pilgrims facing stray dog attacks and thieves on Gopalapatnam-Simhachalam Temple Road has been solved with the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) taking up the lighting project at a cost of Rs 1.36 crore. The project is expected to be completed by end of this month.
Pilgrims arriving from different parts from north coastal Andhra and elsewhere during the late hours were staying at a dormitory built by the temple. They were going to the temple in the early hours. The dormitory was closed years ago forcing the pilgrims to walk in the darkness to the temple taking all the risks.
The five km long road was hazardous for those carrying children and it was tougher during the rainy season. The condition of the road was bad for the pedestrians. Hence, it was repaired only before the International Fleet Review as the administration expected visit of top officials and Union Ministers. The road was developed within a week.
Though there were many requisitions for the lighting successive executive officer ignored them citing paucity of funds.
However, after demands from various sectors, the GVMC officials came forward to install LED lighting at an estimated cost of Rs 1.36 core, covering a distance of three km from Gopalapatnam Petrol Bunk to Simhachalam Goshala Junction. Pendurthy MLA Bandaru Satyannarayana Murty laid the foundation stone last week.
“We will complete the lighting by end of this month. Work has been sanctioned in two parts. One with Rs 68 lakhs for fixing lights up to Prahaladapuram and another with Rs 68 lakhs from Prahaladapuram to Simhachalam Goshala Junction. About 120 lights will be placed on either side of the road,’’ said deputy engineer of GVMC, S Ramana Murty
“It will be very helpful that north coastal Andhra devotees who are arriving in the late hours for darsan in the morning. They can enjoy the midnight walk chanting Govinda namam,” said K Simhdrappadu, a devotee from Odisha border.Accidents will be reduced and there will be no stray dogs attack on the pilgrims, said Dangudu Biyyapu Rajasekar, a local resident of Simhachalam.
By Jatlee Dontala
