Encroachments, mostly roadside outlets and extensions of existing shops, on all four Mada Streets around Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai town were demolished on Wednesday to provide more road space for pilgrims during Karthigai Deepam festival, which will be celebrated till December 7.
Officials of State Highways, which is executing the demolition drive, said that apart from Mada Streets around the temple, illegal structures on the 14-km-long Girivalam path are also being demolished as the footfall of devotees is expected to increase in the coming days ahead of the lighting of the Maha Deepam on December 3. The entire work will be completed in a day or two. Along with Highways’ officials, Collector K. Tharpagaraj and Tiruvannamalai Corporation Commissioner S. Selva Balaji inspected the demolition drive around the temple.
“More road space will help senior citizens and children to walk safely around the temple and the Girivalam path. The entire stretch will be restored to its original width,” S. Anbarasu, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), State Highways, told The Hindu.
Most of the encroachments are located on the newly constructed stormwater drains. Two-wheelers and cycles are parked on the carriageway of these stretches, thereby blocking the easy movement of pedestrians to the temple and its surrounding areas.
