23-07-2025
More battery vehicles around Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple can ease travel for devotees
More battery-operated vehicles (e-vehicles) around the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram could ease the travel for devotees in the vehicle-restricted areas around the temple.
Barring West Car Street, all heavy vehicles and cars are restricted on East, South and North Car Streets.
In this situation, those entering the temple area from the bus stand or railway station through the West Car Street should walk about 500 metres to reach the East temple entrance.
Also, those who enter temple following their ritual in Agnitheertham would enter only through the East entrance.
N. Jeyakanthan, a resident of Rameswaram, said that as only bikes would be allowed on the streets surrounding the temple, devotees would seek the assistance of paid fish cart service.
'Though few battery-operated vehicles are operated by the temple and few organisations, it would not even be near the demand during festival seasons,' he added.
As the Ramanathaswamy temple is the one of the most popular devotional destinations in the country, thousands of tourists from other States visit the temple every day, he stated.
Even when the fish carts were of a great help to the tourists and devotees in taking them to the temple and carrying their luggage to their lodges nearby, it would not be enough and comfortable for elderly people, Mr. Jeyakanthan noted.
Since the pushcarts were narrow and a bit higher from the ground level, it was not an easy task for everyone to jump on to the seating area, he observed.
Maruthu, a fish cart operator, said that they charge about ₹20 to ₹30 depending upon the distance they take the passengers.
'As we also help the tourists carry their luggage to their staying areas we cannot use the seated cart vehicles. To adhere to the needs of the people, we operate the fish cart which gives enough space to accommodate both the people and their luggage,' he added.
Though a tourist from North India who visited the temple during the recent flag hoisting event of the 'Adi Thirukalyanam' celebrations felt that a battery-operated vehicle would be comfortable for his elderly mother, due to the busy day, he said that all the e-vehicles were engaged.
'So, we just loaded the cart with our luggage and seated our mother while we walked all the way to the lodge from the temple,' he added.
A temple authority said that about six e-vehicles were operated for assisting the tourists, but if the need arises, they could source more vehicles.
