more-in RAMANATHAPURAM Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Commissioner R. Jaya reviewed the ‘Ramayana Circuit’ scheme to be implemented under Swadesh Darshan Scheme and inspected the facilities for pilgrims visiting Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram on Thursday. Ms. Jaya, accompanied by Collector S. Natarajan and HR and CE Executive Engineer Vennila, reviewed ‘Ramayana Circuit’ scheme drawn to promote spiritual tourism, connecting important places associated with the epic such as Sethukarai, Devipattinam and Dhanushkodi. She also reviewed the progress of ‘thirupanigal’ in the temple. HR and CE and Tamil Nadu Tourism departments had sent separate proposals for the scheme, official sources said. It was too early to discuss the details of the scheme, Ms. Jaya told reporters later. Ms. Jaya said she had asked S. Mangayarkarasi, Joint Commissioner of the temple, to look into the issues of gathering of moss around the 22 theerthams inside the temple and stability of the mandapams adjoining them. Replying to a question, Ms. Jaya said construction of the second corridor, launched in 1975, was delayed as the Archaeological Survey of India had issued guidelines to be followed while carrying out the work. “We have to follow them for preservation and conservation of the existing structures,” she said. Ms. Jaya, who inspected Vivekananda hall and other buildings near the temple, where a large number of pilgrims stayed, said some of the buildings were old and she had instructed the officials to assess their structural stability. Referring to the congestion inside the temple, she said she would discuss with officials the viability of opening the south and north entrances, which remained closed for security reasons. She said the police and the district administration would have discussions with the temple authorities to ensure that the pilgrims had a hassle-free darshan of the deities. To avoid crowding at ticket counters, the temple authorities were contemplating opening more counters and introducing online ticketing. They were also planning to introduce a queue management system. The yatrika niwas would soon be thrown open to the pilgrims, she said.

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