Ashada Fridays: New measures to ease darshan at temple atop Chamundi hills
In preparation for the upcoming Ashada Fridays, the Mysuru district administration has announced a series of new measures to ensure the smooth movement of devotees to the Chamundi Hill temple.
Minister in-charge of Mysuru district H.C. Mahadevappa, addressing the media on Wednesday, said that better coordination among key departments, particularly the police and temple authorities, has been instructed to manage the large footfall expected during the season.
The Ashada season begins on June 27 with thousands of devotees expected to throng the hill temple every Friday. To reduce traffic congestion, entry of all private vehicles will be restricted on Fridays and weekends during the season. Instead, free shuttle buses will operate from a temporary bus stand at the foothills to ferry pilgrims to the temple.
A new ₹2,000 fast-track darshan facility will be launched this year. Devotees opting for this service will be transported in air-conditioned buses and offered priority darshan. They will also receive a prasadam box containing laddu, kumkum, and other items. A ₹300 special darshan option will also continue, the Minister said.
'There will be no issuance of VIP or special passes during the season,' Mr. Mahadevappa clarified.
'A new queue system will be introduced to make even general darshan more efficient. We are ensuring that those buying barcoded tickets have a hassle-free experience,' he replied.
The Minister also directed authorities to take steps to eliminate plastic usage on the hill. 'Awareness campaigns will be launched to educate the public on maintaining cleanliness and avoiding plastic,' he added.
In response to concerns about inconvenience to devotees standing in long queues during VIP visits, Mr. Mahadevappa said that a joint system will be put in place by the Deputy Commissioner, Police Commissioner, and temple authorities to prevent disruptions for the general public.
An action plan is being prepared to avoid the lapses witnessed last year. 'Police personnel have been instructed to treat devotees with respect and not harass them under the pretext of crowd management or security,' the Minister emphasised.
Water sports in Kabini
The government will launch water sports activities in the Kabini backwaters, to be managed by Jungle Lodges and Resorts Limited, the Minister announced.
Expressing concern over Mysuru district's poor performance in the SSLC exams, the Minister said officials have been asked to take corrective measures to improve results next year.
The online auction of 200 MUDA sites will take place later this month. Additionally, approval has been sought for the allotment of 57 Civic Amenity (CA) sites, he added.
A survey of 6,000 acres of deemed forest land is underway, with 5,000 acres already examined. Lands not falling under forest classification as per guidelines will be reclaimed for government use, he said.
Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, MLA G.T. Devegowda, and other senior officials were present.
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Ashada Fridays: New measures to ease darshan at temple atop Chamundi hills
In preparation for the upcoming Ashada Fridays, the Mysuru district administration has announced a series of new measures to ensure the smooth movement of devotees to the Chamundi Hill temple. Minister in-charge of Mysuru district H.C. Mahadevappa, addressing the media on Wednesday, said that better coordination among key departments, particularly the police and temple authorities, has been instructed to manage the large footfall expected during the season. The Ashada season begins on June 27 with thousands of devotees expected to throng the hill temple every Friday. To reduce traffic congestion, entry of all private vehicles will be restricted on Fridays and weekends during the season. Instead, free shuttle buses will operate from a temporary bus stand at the foothills to ferry pilgrims to the temple. A new ₹2,000 fast-track darshan facility will be launched this year. Devotees opting for this service will be transported in air-conditioned buses and offered priority darshan. They will also receive a prasadam box containing laddu, kumkum, and other items. A ₹300 special darshan option will also continue, the Minister said. 'There will be no issuance of VIP or special passes during the season,' Mr. Mahadevappa clarified. 'A new queue system will be introduced to make even general darshan more efficient. We are ensuring that those buying barcoded tickets have a hassle-free experience,' he replied. The Minister also directed authorities to take steps to eliminate plastic usage on the hill. 'Awareness campaigns will be launched to educate the public on maintaining cleanliness and avoiding plastic,' he added. In response to concerns about inconvenience to devotees standing in long queues during VIP visits, Mr. Mahadevappa said that a joint system will be put in place by the Deputy Commissioner, Police Commissioner, and temple authorities to prevent disruptions for the general public. An action plan is being prepared to avoid the lapses witnessed last year. 'Police personnel have been instructed to treat devotees with respect and not harass them under the pretext of crowd management or security,' the Minister emphasised. Water sports in Kabini The government will launch water sports activities in the Kabini backwaters, to be managed by Jungle Lodges and Resorts Limited, the Minister announced. Expressing concern over Mysuru district's poor performance in the SSLC exams, the Minister said officials have been asked to take corrective measures to improve results next year. The online auction of 200 MUDA sites will take place later this month. Additionally, approval has been sought for the allotment of 57 Civic Amenity (CA) sites, he added. A survey of 6,000 acres of deemed forest land is underway, with 5,000 acres already examined. Lands not falling under forest classification as per guidelines will be reclaimed for government use, he said. Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, MLA G.T. Devegowda, and other senior officials were present.
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