Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

‘Vimana gopuram’ gold plating resumes at Indrakeeladri

PHOTO: CH. VIJAYA BHASKAR

Workers fixing gold plates to the ’vimana gopuram’ of Kanakadurga temple in Vijayawada on Wednesday. —

VIJAYAWADA: The work of fixing gold plates to the ‘vimana gopuram’ of the temple of goddess Kanakadurga on Indrakeeladri resumed on Wednesday after a gap of four years.

Temple officials plan to complete the fixing of all the plates by the nine-day Dasara festivities, which are scheduled to commence in the last week of September.

It was about seven years ago that the temple authorities proposed decoration of ‘vimana gopuram’ with gold plates on the lines of the one at Tirumala. The authorities issued a notification in February 2002 inviting Expression of Interest from contractors who could undertake the task. Though the works commenced in 2003, they were stopped half way following legal problems. By then, works in two phases were completed and about 54 kg of gold was used for fixing the plates.

Following a prolonged legal battle, the authorities of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamivarla Devasthanam now handed over the works to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). The TTD divided the works into two phases, and in the first phase plates were made by using 30 kg of gold. These works are expected to be completed by September 7. The final phase of works would be taken up subsequently and completed by September 20. Gold weighing 17 kg would be used for the final phase works. According to the officials, the devasthanam had paid Rs. 4 crores to the TTD towards the works and the account would be settled after completion of the entire gold plating.

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