Dasara works at sluggish pace

Vijayawada: Arrangements for the annual nine-day Dasara festivities are moving at a snail’s pace on Indrakeeladri Hills and on the Ghat road. Tarpaulin covers were not installed on the queue lines on the ghat road which is the only way to reach Mantralayam. The Endowments department handed the work of arranging water proof tarpaulin covers to a private contractor in three queue lines from Vinayaka temple to top of the hill.

By Monday evening, the covers were arranged from Vinayaka temple to toll gate down the ghat road and remain work is yet to be completed. The nine-day annual celebrations will begin on September 21 and will conclude on September 30.Queue lines play very important role in the festival because lakhs of devotees pass through them.

Rain-proof tarpaulin sheets are yet to be arranged on 3 km queue linePrasadam counters are not readiedVehicle parking arrangements n
Indrakeeladri yet to be completed

In case of rain, devotees may suffer if the water proof tarpaulin covers were not arranged by September 21.Arrangements for setting up of media point was also not started on the top of hill shrine.

The organisers have earlier arranged several hundred plants on the hill adjacent to the ghat road. Later, the officials have decided to remove the greenery and hundreds of decorative plants between the hill and ghat road to provide parking facility for media vehicles and VIP vehicles. An official said greenery works were given to a contractor for Rs 13 lakh and expenditure will become waste if these plants are removed.

With less than three days left for the beginning of celebrations, Prasadam counters installation works are also not completed till Monday in Arjuna street. The officials are also clueless on the number of CC cameras to be installed along the ghat road as the queue lines works not completed till Monday.

The newly formed Trust Board members are trying to work in co-ordination with the endowment officials.The officials are arranging two lines for the entry from Vinayaka temple and Kummaripalem road and only exit point from Mahamandapam steps. Only two lifts are functioning in the seven-floor building.

District Collector B Lakshmikantham and other officials conducted a review meeting at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram on Monday to discuss the arrangements. Staff working in electricity, irrigation, revenue, endowments and other departments lodged a complaint to the collector that the police creating many hurdles to discharge their duties during the Dasara festival. They urged the Collector to give them a free hand to perform their duties.

The Collector has asked the police not to interfere in the work of other departments and help the administration to conduct the celebrations in a successful manner.

The officials discussed the vehicle arrangements to be made for physically challenged, pregnant women, sick and elderly people, who face difficulties while walking along queue lines three kilo meters from Vinayaka temple to Indrakeeladri. Vehicles will be arranged from Rajiv Gandhi park and other points for the convenience of these devotees.