Mangaluru: Devotees arriving in large numbers every day from various districts and other states to seek darshan of the Goddess at Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur, continue to face a major problem due to inadequate parking facilities. The situation becomes particularly difficult during weekends and on special puja occasions, when the footfall rises significantly.The govt has reserved 3.5 acres near the temple for the development of additional parking facilities. However, the proposed parking lot has remained on paper as the revenue department is yet to transfer the land to the Karnataka religious endowment department.Temple authorities and devotees hope the transfer process will be completed soon, enabling the department to take up long-pending development works and ease congestion around the temple.MLC Kishore Kumar Puttur told TOI that the issue was brought to the notice of the temple authorities recently. “Devotees from various parts of the country are facing inconvenience due to a lack of sufficient parking space during weekends and festival days. Parking vehicles along the roadside not only leads to traffic congestion but also poses safety concerns for pedestrians, senior citizens, women, and children,” the MLC said, adding that he has urged the authorities to find solutions to the issue by allotting additional land and funds to develop sufficient parking areas near the temple.He noted that the temple authorities have responded to the letter and informed about the govt allotting 3.5 acres for the purpose.“In the interest of devotees, the MLC had requested necessary action to be taken by coordinating with the concerned local body and the police department to improve parking arrangements based on six specified points. Accordingly, a parking facility covering an area of 1.5 acres near the temple has been provided for visiting devotees. A concrete road has been laid leading from this parking area to the temple, along with a sheet-roofed queuing pathway for shade. However, due to the very high influx of devotees in recent times, the existing parking space proves insufficient on weekends and special occasions,” stated Prashanth Kumar Shetty, the executive officer of Kollur Temple.“To provide well-equipped parking facilities for the growing number of devotees visiting the temple in the future, the DC, has ordered the reservation of 3.5 acres of Kollur village under Section 71 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, in the name of the religious endowment department, Govt of Karnataka, for public purposes, specifically for temple parking. Necessary action regarding the points mentioned in your letter will be initiated as soon as this land is handed over to the temple,” the officer stated.
