Free darshan facility resumes at Bhimashankar temple, rush raises crowd management concerns amid ongoing works
Pune: Free darshan facility has resumed at the Bhimashankar temple, a prominent Jyotirlinga shrine, after nearly five months, triggering a sharp rise in visitor footfall and raising crowd-management concerns.The facility, reinstated on Thursday, follows directives from the district administration, a
By The Times of India
Pune: Free darshan facility has resumed at the Bhimashankar temple, a prominent Jyotirlinga shrine, after nearly five months, triggering a sharp rise in visitor footfall and raising crowd-management concerns.The facility, reinstated on Thursday, follows directives from the district administration, allowing free darshan between 7am and 11am.
It has, however, presented fresh challenges. “Several development works are under way within and around the temple premises, creating logistical concerns for crowd movement and security management.
Temporary structures, barricades, construction material and reduced open space have limited queue management capacity, making orderly movement a priority,” a senior temple trustee told TOI.Officials said efforts were being intensified to regulate traffic, manage queues and maintain discipline within the temple complex. “Parking areas nearby are already seeing heavy vehicle inflow, especially during weekends, and existing facilities are proving inadequate,” an Ambegaon tehsil official said.The rush is expected to increase further on weekends, during religious events and throughout the monsoon season.
Resultantly, additional measures are being planned to prevent congestion and ensure smooth movement of devotees.
Police personnel have been stationed at key points, while volunteers and temple staff have been instructed to guide visitors along designated routes.
Assistant inspector Sagar Pawar of the Ghodegaon police station urged devotees to cooperate with authorities and said, “Adequate security measures are in place to prevent any untoward incidents.”Local residents and devotees have broadly welcomed the facility resumption, calling it a relief for pilgrims travelling long distances to visit the temple.
Concerns, however, remain over preparedness. “The authorities should have anticipated the surge in visitors after the temple remained closed for months and arranged logistics accordingly.
With ongoing work still incomplete, managing crowds during the monsoon will be challenging,” activist Ashok Shengale said.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in PuneStay updated with the latest Pune news.
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