Consumer body calls for improved parking facilities at Marudhamalai and Ukkadam Lakshmi Narasimhar temples

A consumer body in Coimbatore has urged authorities to address parking constraints at Marudhamalai Subramaniyaswamy Temple and Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple in Ukkadam, terming them a priority for managing crowd and traffic. The representation was submitted by Citizens’ Voice Coimbatore (CVC) to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.

For Marudhamalai Temple, CVC said the hilltop parking area is inadequate and requested that the ongoing expansion be completed before Thaipooam. It also suggested providing lift access between the hilltop and the temple entrance for persons with mobility limitations. To manage peak turnout, CVC sought additional feeder buses through HR&CE, TNSTC or authorised private operators during weekends, Tuesdays and festival days, and recommended telecasting rituals on LED screens across the premises to reduce crowding near the sanctum.

To support funding for the improvements, CVC proposed a sponsorship model under which corporates and charitable organisations can contribute to specific infrastructure components with acknowledgements permitted under HR&CE norms.

For Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple in Ukkadam, CVC said parking has become a concern following withdrawal of access to the adjoining open grounds in connection with the proposed Ukkadam Bus Stand redevelopment. It asked the Corporation to redesign the project to retain the earlier parking area or consider extending the construction along Sundakkamuthur Road. As an alternative, it suggested establishing a multilevel parking facility on the same site with nominal charges through an MoU between the Corporation and temple authorities.