No ropeway project for Durga temple

VIJAYAWADA: The rope-way proposal mooted by the AP Tourism Development Corporation from Sitammavaripadalu on the banks of Krishna river to Sri Kanaka Durga temple was shelved for the time being as the higher ups of endowments department deferred it.It is learnt that the endowments commissioner in a review meeting held at Hyderabad on Thursday deferred the proposal of the ropeway as the passage of exit for devotees at Om turning proposed in the master plan of temple development would clash with the landing point of the ropeway. Earlier, the AP tourism department sought the permission of the endowments officials to set up the landing station of the ropeway at Om turning on ghat road.The state tourism department proposed the ropeway to attract more tourists to visit the city. In addition, the ropeway would ease the traffic congestion on the narrow road near Ghat road by carrying devotees directly to the hilltop without crossing the road,said the proposal.Apart from the proposed ropeway, as many as fifteen other issues were discussed at the review meeting including problems pertaining to e-Procurement, leasing out of temple lands and onging development works of the Durga temple.Temple executive officer M Raghunath said that the Endowments commissioner would inspect the ongoing Rajagopuram works in first week of June. The queue complex near the temple mahamandapam would be ready before the Dasara festivals, he said.Commenting on the alleged irregularities at temple toll gate, the EO made it clear that the entry of autorickshaws and heavy vehicles won't be allowed at Ghat road. Devotees can avail the temple buses from Kanaka Durga Nagar, plying in every 20 minutes, to reach the temple, he said.'No hike in price of laddu now'VIJAYAWADA: Kanaka Durga temple executive officer M Raghunath has ruled out the possibility of increase in price of laddu for the time being.After the endowments department delegated the decision to hike the price of Laddu Prasadam to the temple authorities, the EO said there was no plan to increase the price of laddus now though the shrine has been incurring a loss of Rs 2.63 on each laddu. However, he said that the price of the prasadam would be increased ina month or two.