with so many temples being neglected, its qutie funny that this reporter found the neglect of the car park being neglected worthy of reporting...how much of the 50 lakhs would preculate down...only brahadeeswarar will know..sivan sothu kula nasam....hopefully it will act as a deterent
NEGLECTED: A view of the parking lot near Sri Brahadeeswarar temple in Gangaikondacholapuram.
JAYAMKONDAM: A car parking facility, provided as part of a tourism development programme, near Sri Brahadeeswarar temple in Gangaikondacholapuram in Perambalur district has been in disuse.
The facility, provided at a cost of Rs.3 lakh sanctioned by the Tourism Department, was executed during 2003-04 by the District Rural Development Agency through the village panchayat.
However, the parking lot does not have a roof. Hence, tourists and pilgrims are forced to park their vehicles under the trees in front of the temple. Interestingly, a parking fee of Rs.10 is collected from each vehicle owner or taxi driver.
According to Tourism Department sources, no roof could be constructed at the site as the norms of the Archaeological Survey of India, which maintains the temple, do not permit the construction of a building or a concrete structure that will hinder visibility of temple.
The department has released Rs.50 lakh for launching tourism promotion schemes in the vicinity of the temple.
The works would be executed through the Public Works Department by the end of the current financial year, according to official sources.
The funds will be utilised for the construction of a cottage at a cost of Rs.15 lakh, a shopping complex (Rs.8 lakh), toilets (Rs.7.25 lakh), a restaurant (Rs.6.99 lakh) and development of roads, provision of drinking water facility and other amenities at a cost of Rs.6.66 lakh. Tenders will be called for shortly the sources told The Hindu here on Wednesday.