Vijayawada: A master plan for the Kanaka Durga temple is set to be finalised by January 2025 to meet the temple’s needs for the next century. Endowment minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy emphasised the necessity of preparing a futuristic blueprint considering the growing number of devotees visiting the iconic temple in Vijayawada.
Speaking at a special meeting held on the temple’s Maha Mandapam seventh floor, minister Ramanarayana Reddy, along with Vijayawada MP Kesineni Shivanath (Chinni), reviewed the draft master plan. The minister acknowledged that earlier efforts to create a similar plan were discontinued midway and instructed authorities to revise and update it to align with future demands.
Kanaka Durga temple, the second-largest temple in Andhra Pradesh, experiences increasing footfall daily, particularly on weekends and during festivals. The minister highlighted the urgency of addressing overcrowding issues and ensuring a smooth experience for devotees.
The minister assured that the master plan will be historic and will receive chief minister Chandrababu Naidu’s approval by January-end.
He said that works as per the master plan will be taken up immediately with a deadline of completing them before Krishna Pushkarams scheduled in 2028.
MP Chinni noted that the temple is part of the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD), a central govt initiative aimed at enhancing temple tourism. He suggested that the master plan include permanent queue lines, waiting rooms, accommodations, and other facilities to make visits more convenient for devotees. During Dussehra, temporary queue lines are erected every year on Canal Road, and Chinni stressed the need for a permanent queue complex without affecting city traffic.
Chinni also stressed that the plan must comply with Agama Shastra principles, ensuring traditional practices are respected.
