Vijayawada: Despite their promise, Kanakadurga temple officials have failed to complete the construction of the seven-storeyed Sri Mallikarjuna mahamandapam, though the?conclusion of the five-day long Bhavani deeksha is set to commence from December 23.
The officials had, every year since the past several years, been promising to complete the construction works before Dasara.
However, that was not to be, though it appeared that they would keep their promise this year.
Despite this, the devotees had been hoping that the works would be completed before the start of the conclusion of the Bhavani deeksha.
Once the mahamandapam is completed, it would provide several facilities?to the devotees, including a queue complex on par with Vaikuntam complex?at Tirumala.
The delay in completion of the works means that the devotees are forced to?wait on the canal road without any facilities, including basic ones like toilets.
Lakhs of devotees, on Bhavani deeksha, visit the?temple to conclude their deeksha after giri pradakshina.
A majority of?the devotees visit the temple from North Andhra districts, including?Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts. Some of the?devotees walk to the temple right from their villages, faith being the driving force.
Though this faith is all too evident, the officials face allegations of lethargy while providing necessary facilities for the?convenience of devotees.
Many of the devotees are forced to sleep in open places around the bathing ghats?and at Kanakadurganagar.
Expressing concern over the poor facilities, a devotee Bhaskara Rao?of Eluru, said that the officials should bear in mind that the devotees visit the temple along with their families.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, district collector M. Raghunandana Rao and police commissioner B. Srinivasulu reviewed the arrangements for the Bhavani deeksha.
