The Suryanarayana Swamy Temple, dedicated to the sun god at Arasavalli near Srikakulam is set to undergo a major redevelopment if a proposed master plan becomes a reality.
The plans envision the ancient temple to be at par with major ones such as the Simhachalam Temple near Vishakapatnam, the Kanakadurga Temple at Vijayawada and the Annavaram Temple.
The plans, however, require all commercial establishments that obstruct the rays of sunlight between Indrapushkarini and the sun temple to be demolished.
Existing problems include congestion by vendors or hawkers at the temple's entrance and increased traffic movement through the temple's vicinity into residential areas — both making the walk to the temple all the more difficult for pilgrims, especially on Sundays which are considered auspicious. Utter chaos prevails on festival days such as on Ratha Saptami.
The district administration has proposed removing the shops on either side of the road leading up to the temple and widening it up to 60 feet.
Senior officials belonging to the Endowments Department said amenities (toilets, parking slots, cloak rooms) offered by the temple are generally poor or not even available, and the local administration has not been up to the mark. The department's Principal Secretary JSV Prasad said free meals were not being served despite the temple authorities being given a directive. Prasad added several other suggestions of his to improve conditions were not considered either.
Dabbiru Srinivasa Rao, a former member of the Arasavilli Devasthanam (the temple's trust) said many changes need to be implemented if the temple was to attain significance at a national level — building a compound wall around the temple and serving free food being two challenges. The food issue wouldn't be a problem for the temple, according to Rao, since the trust has about Rs10 crore to spend from donations offered by the devotees. Rao also said certain ceremonial undertakings such as decorating the main idol with gold ornaments from the lockers, at least on auspicious days, should also be done.
District officials said all that remains to go ahead with these plans is a nod from the Andhra Pradesh government and consent from the owners of the shops (for relocation).
