By: N. Rahul
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Wednesday approved the layouts for development of Yadagirigutta hill shrine without touching the sanctum sanctorum but making major changes on the hill and asked the temple authority to commence the work on Dasara. It should take some form by next Dasara.
A significant development would be construction of Yadagirigutta temple city on 1,000 acres spread over two hills on the eastern side of the main hill topped with the shrine which is called ‘Yadadri’, a release said after Mr. Rao cleared the plans and designs at a meeting with officials, architects and other experts.
The temple city will have wide roads, gardens, cottages, choultries, parking place and a kalyana mantapam. There will be plants spreading fragrance in the surroundings of the hill. A sound system continuously playing devotional songs round the clock, will be installed.
A complex to house a guesthouse for VIPs on the lines of Padmavathi guesthouse at Tirupati will be constructed on another hill over 30 acres near the main hill.
The approved layouts also envisaged that there will be two roads for driving up and coming down respectively on the main hill. The present road will be used for upward journey while a new one will be constructed in return direction. A bus stand over 1.9 acres will be constructed on the hill.
There will be a commercial space over 2.3 acres around the temple. A 108 ft tall statue of Hanuman will be constructed on the eastern side of the shrine. Facilities for free food scheme, organising Brahmotsavam, resting place for priests and a shopping complex for sale of religious articles are also proposed.
Mr. Rao desired that a wonderful construction should come up. The temple authority should take complete responsibility for supervision of works and providing basic infrastructure. The decision to develop the area into a major religious destination was taken during Mr. Rao’s visit to the shrine with Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and sri Chinajeerswamy on May 30. A puja for works was performed on the same day.
The Chief Minister promised some more funds for the project apart from Rs. 200 crore allotted by two annual budgets. The names of donors of facilities created earlier should not be erased when they were pulled down. They should be retained in the new constructions.