Darshan to be delayed further
Yadadri temple renovation to be completed by March 2018: Ministers
By all accounts, it appears that darshan of Lord Laxmi Narasimha Swamy at the Yadadri shrine for devotees will only be possible from March 2018 due to further delay in completion of the renovation works of the temple, located 70 km from Hyderabad.
Endowment minister A. Indrakaran Reddy and home minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy, who reviewed the ongoing renovation works on Tuesday, declared that the works would be delayed beyond the earlier set deadline of Dasara this year, but everything will be ready by March 2018, in time of the annual Brahmotsavam.
“We had wanted all the works related to renovation of main temple and its surroundings to be completed by this Dasara, but considering the magnitude of the works, we expect it would be completed by next March,” Mr Indrakaran Reddy said.
Darshan of the main deity for devotees had been closed on April 21, 2016 for the renovation works. A temporary “Balalayam” was built for darshan of presiding deity (utsav murthi).
“Of the works worth `800 crore, so far, `250 crore has been spent on renovation works. It’s taking time as we have decided to build all the seven new gopurams with black granite and not with bricks as usually done in other temples,” said G. Kishan Rao, special officer for the Yadadri Temple Renovation Project.
He said 500 sculptors were presently working at the temple and almost 70 per cent of the work has been completed.
“We have achieved 70 per cent target in just one year,” Mr Kishan Rao said.
The ministers said that everything will be ready by March 2018, in time of the annual Brahmotsavam.