Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Seer opposes short route to Simhachalam


By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, March 31, 2013: The proposal of Simhachalam temple authorities to develop an alternate road to cut short the distance from the city by 3.5 kms had hit a road block with the seer of Sarada Peetam Swamy Swaroopanandendra Saraswathy opposing it.
The present 20km stretch road to Simhachalam was developed in 1950 and passes through NAD Kotha Road and Gopalapatnam. Temple engineering staff along with some endowment officials had conducted survey and feasibility tests on Thursday and Friday on the alternative road planned from Darapalem, which is close to Adivivaram to reach the hill shrine.  
To avoid congestion on the existing ghat road, especially during weekends, temple management planned the new alternative route from Darapalem.
“As per sthala purana, devotees going to the hill shrine have to pass through ‘Tholi Pavancha’ (First step of god’s abode) seen at the entrance of the existing road. It had been the tradition and custom since ages. The tholi pavancha is at steps route. But the ghat road that allows vehicles, was constructed in such a manner that it passes through the first step. It is related to sentiments. The temple management should review their plan,” Swamy Swaroopanandendra told this correspondent.
The seer also pointed that a similar attempt few years back to lay an alternate road from the city had claimed lives of 11 persons. The Simhachalam temple authorities, seven years ago, developed a road along Hanumanthawaka and Adivivaram to reach hill top temple. But it was closed after around 11 persons were killed in an accident just a week before it was to be inaugurated formally.
The temple authorities have almost finalized the alternate road proposal and had sent it to endowments department for necessary clearances. “We are awaiting nod from endowments department. As soon as we get it works would begin,” said a senior official of Simhachalam temple. 

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