Collector reviews arrangements for Vaikunta Ekadasi at Srirangam

With the annual Vaikunta Ekadasi festival scheduled to held at Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam from December 9 to 30, the temple and district authorities are gearing up to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.

The opening of Paramapadavasal, the highlight of the festival, is scheduled for December 20, when the temple will witness a large turnout.

Collector Pratik Tayal chaired a meeting of the coordination committee at the Thousand Pillar Mandapam of the temple on Tuesday to discuss the arrangements for the festival and called upon officials to work in tandem to provide amenities to the visiting devotees.

He instructed the officials to streamline the queue system, provide adequate drinking water supply, temporary toilets, and medical facilities.

He directed the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation to run special buses to the temple during the festival and put up sign boards on route directions at the bus stand and bus halts. He requested the Railways to take steps to operate special trains and provide temporary halts for trains at Srirangam during the festival.

He instructed the officials to remove encroachments on roads and ensure that canals and drains are properly covered.

The Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd. should ensure uninterrupted power supply in the town. Standby generators would be kept ready.

All those who wish to organise annadhanams should obtain permission from the Food Safety Department and distribute food only at the designated places, Mr. Tayal said.

He told the police to provide necessary security for the event and install closed circuit television cameras in and around the temple to maintain vigil. Teams of Fire and Rescue Services should be kept in readiness, he added.

N. Ponmani, Corporation Commissioner; Gnanasekaran, Regional Joint Commissioner, HR &CE Department; and A.R. Prakash, Joint Commissioner of the temple; attended the meeting.