Hans News Service Chittoor

Comprehensivearrangements being made for the annual Brahmotsavams of Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Swamy temple at Kanipakam, ensuring safety and convenience of devotees throughout the 21-day festival to be held from September 14 to October 4. District Collector Sumit Kumar reviewed the arrangements with officials at a meeting held on Wednesday at Kanipakam temple.

He instructed all departments to implement the decisions taken at the meeting without delay and work in coordination. Reducing waiting time for darshan, ensuring crowd safety and providing basic facilities to devotees should be given priority. Additional CCTV cameras and fire safety equipment would be installed, while roads, drinking water, electricity and lighting facilities would also be strengthened. Officials have also been asked to focus on infrastructure and other requirements around the gopuram, temple premises and nearby panchayats.

Puthalapattu MLA K Murali Mohan said every effort should be made to ensure that devotees do not face inconvenience or security issues during the festival. Priority would be given to common devotees throughout the 21-day celebrations. Three ambulances will be kept ready to respond to medical emergencies. A fire safety vehicle equipped with modern technology and additional fire personnel will also be deployed to deal with fire-related and other emergencies. Transport arrangements will receive special attention, particularly at night. A daily bus service from Kanipakam to the district headquarters at 11.30 pm has been proposed to help devotees who may otherwise face difficulty finding transport. The MLA also said silk robes would be presented to Lord Vinayaka on behalf of the State government on Vinayaka Chavithi. District Superintendent of Police Tushar Dudi said adequate police personnel would be deployed on major festival days. A command control room would be set up at the temple, with police personnel working round the clock to manage security and crowd movement. Temple Executive Officer K Penchala Kishore, chairman V Surendrababu alias Mani Naidu, board members, and others attended the meeting.