The Rs 5.20 crore lift installation project at Marudhamalai Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Coimbatore has reached 70 Percent completion. The project aims to improve accessibility for elderly and disabled devotees visiting the hilltop shrine.
Coimbatore: The Marudhamalai Subramaniya Swamy Temple, considered Lord Murugan's 7th abode, is witnessing significant progress in its accessibility improvement project. The installation of lifts, initiated to assist elderly and differently-abled devotees, has now reached 70% completion.
The project, costing Rs 5.20 crore, was launched in 2021 by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin through video conference. The lifts are being installed near the temple's Raja Gopuram to facilitate easier access for thousands of devotees who visit daily from Coimbatore and other areas.
Currently, visitors parking their vehicles at the designated area need to climb a series of steps to reach the temple for darshan. This has been challenging for elderly and differently-abled devotees, prompting the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to plan the lift installation.
The project faced initial delays due to the presence of rocks in the area, which required special permissions for removal. With approvals now in place, the work has been intensified. The elevation from the parking area to the temple's outer prakaram (circumambulatory path) is about 20 meters, necessitating a two-stage lift system.
The first set of lifts will transport devotees from the car parking area up to a height of 10 meters. Each of these lifts can accommodate 20 people at a time. From there, devotees will walk a short distance to reach another set of lifts that will take them to the temple's outer prakaram. These lifts will also have a capacity of 20 people each.
Temple authorities have stated that the entire lift installation work is expected to be completed within the next three months. Additionally, the construction of a flag post mandapam within the temple complex, valued at Rs 1.60 crore, has also commenced and is progressing rapidly.
This development is set to significantly enhance the devotees' experience, making the hilltop shrine more accessible to all visitors.
The project, costing Rs 5.20 crore, was launched in 2021 by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin through video conference. The lifts are being installed near the temple's Raja Gopuram to facilitate easier access for thousands of devotees who visit daily from Coimbatore and other areas.
Currently, visitors parking their vehicles at the designated area need to climb a series of steps to reach the temple for darshan. This has been challenging for elderly and differently-abled devotees, prompting the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to plan the lift installation.
The project faced initial delays due to the presence of rocks in the area, which required special permissions for removal. With approvals now in place, the work has been intensified. The elevation from the parking area to the temple's outer prakaram (circumambulatory path) is about 20 meters, necessitating a two-stage lift system.
The first set of lifts will transport devotees from the car parking area up to a height of 10 meters. Each of these lifts can accommodate 20 people at a time. From there, devotees will walk a short distance to reach another set of lifts that will take them to the temple's outer prakaram. These lifts will also have a capacity of 20 people each.
Temple authorities have stated that the entire lift installation work is expected to be completed within the next three months. Additionally, the construction of a flag post mandapam within the temple complex, valued at Rs 1.60 crore, has also commenced and is progressing rapidly.
This development is set to significantly enhance the devotees' experience, making the hilltop shrine more accessible to all visitors.