Parking chaos near Srirangam temple continues in absence of designated facility

Haphazard parking of two-wheelers and four-wheelers near Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam has become a persistent issue, obstructing the free movement of vehicles and causing inconvenience to pilgrims and residents.

With thousands of devotees visiting the temple, particularly during early morning and evening darshan hours, vehicles are frequently parked along narrow stretches leading to the temple. Visitors often leave their vehicles along the roadside, reducing the available carriageway and creating traffic bottlenecks.

Tourist vans, buses and cars are seen parked on both sides along the Amma Mandapam Road, Uthirai and Chithira Streets, Thiruvadi Street and Melur Road. On average, over 400 cars and 50 tourist buses reach the Srirangam temple.

Residents say the problem worsens during weekends and festival days. “Despite repeated appeals, there is no streamlined parking system. Visitors tend to park wherever they find space, blocking the main road and delaying movement,” said M. Prabhu, a resident.

The absence of a designated parking area near the temple has resulted in unregulated parking along key approach roads. Residents say the issue has persisted due to the lack of a permanent parking plan despite repeated appeals.

Traffic police personnel are occasionally deployed in the area, but residents argue that enforcement is inconsistent. With the annual Margazhi season and Vaikunta Ekadasi festival approaching, residents urge authorities to establish a permanent solution to ensure smooth traffic movement in the temple town.

Several attempts were made in the past to establish a parking facility in Srirangam, but none of them materialised as the Tiruchi Corporation lacks a sizeable plot for constructing the parking lot.