Ontimitta temple to get a facelift

Anantapur: The historic Ontimitta Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple would get facelift with the TTD Board sanctioning Rs 100 crore and released Rs 20 crore for the mega project to implement the master plan.

The state government had selected the Ontimitta temple as an alternative to Bhadrachalam after the state bifurcation for the official celebration of Sriramanavami. It was also planned to complete minimum development works by the Sriramanavami next year.

The endowment department had submitted two master plans to the state government and the temple was taken over by the Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams a few months ago.

The TTD Board had given priority to the Sri Kodandarama temple along with developmental activities at Devuni Kadapa.

Official sources said that the immediate priority was providing minimum facilities for the devotees such as widening of roads, expanding the temple Mada streets, providing bathrooms and toilets and contructing a venue for the celestial marriage of Lord Sri Rama.

The first master plan was for the immediate development activities and the second one for long-term work including big-ticket projects.

Chief Whip Meda Mallikarjuna Reddy said both the master plans also involve beatifying the locations along with renovating the various structures of the historic temple. The number of visitors and devotees will increase in the coming days, Mr Reddy said.

The existing Mada streets are to be renewed along with a rathasala. A prasadam counter has also been proposed, apart form a queue complex from outside the temple.

The first master plan has sought beatification of two hills adjacent to the temple. Pothana hill would be developed as a park along with plantations.

A pushkarini has also to be restructured for traditional offerings, sources said. It may be noted taht no Chakrasnanam was performed in the first celestial marriage because of the lack of water sources in and and around the temple.

The second master plan concentrates on big projects, including development of Ontimitta surroundings. "The temple has 300 acres of land, a Kalyanamantapam, mini-auditorium and a new bus stand is proposed to improve facilities for the devotees," the official sources stated.

A Vedic University has also been proposed inside the temple premises.
 

 

 

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