Rs3,993 cr administrative approval for Pandharpur temple corridor and commercial complex

Kolhapur: The state govt has given administrative approval for Pandharpur Temple corridor and commercial complex development plan worth Rs3,993 cr and appointed district collector S Karthikeyan as the project implementation officer.The state planning department, led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, has issued a govt resolution granting administrative approval to the ambitious plan prepared on the lines of temple corridors at Varanasi and Ujjain. The temple town of Pandharpur witnesses four big waris. The upcoming Ashadi Ekadashi is the major one which attracts more than 20 lakh devotees to the town. The GR states the reasons for proposing the corridor development plan such as ever increasing number of devotees visiting the town, narrow roads, encroachments, traffic congestion, safety of warkari’s and disaster management.

A high-powered committee under Fadnavis held on May 4 approved the plan and now the administrative approval for allocation of funds has been given.According to the officials, the major concern of rehabilitation of small traders from the proximity of the temple has been addressed in the plan after several rounds of deliberations. “The traders will not lose their livelihood. They will be rehabilitated in the commercial complex and after the project is completed increase in the count of visitors will help them to earn more,” said a official requesting anonymity.

Nearly half the project amount will be spent on land acquisition- Rs1792 cr and compensation to the owners of the buildings which will be affected by the corridor development-Rs234 cr, which includes developing Pradakshina Marg.The govt has decided to carry out protection and preservation of the old mutts and temples for which Rs36cr will be spent. The corridor development will cost Rs254 cr. The parking and commercial complex will cost Rs448 cr.

The funds for city beautification, the development of ghats top have been allocated.Temple to remain shut for 48 hrsOn June 23 and 24, Pandharpur’s Vitthal-Rukhmini temple will be shut as experts associated with Archeological Society of India and state archeology will carry out conservation works of the idols. Coating was applied to the idols five years ago. Similar excercise will be carried out to increase life of the idols.

The Mandir Mahasangh, the forum of priests have demanded that instead of applying chemical coating the experts should used naturally available materials as otherwise it would be against the holy texts.Ban on flying dronesThe Solapur district administration has banned flying of drones in Pandharpur, along Palkhi routes at major temple areas in the district as part of law and order measures adopted for the safety of the devotees . The licenced drone operators have been asked to furnish their details to local police stations. Ashadi Ekadashi is observed between July 19 to July 29, the main day when chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will attend the rituals with his wife is on July 25.