The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : First winch functions now

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 21, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

First winch functions now

Staff Reporter

PALANI: After a gap of one-and-half years, the first winch has started functioning at Sri Dhandayuthapaniswamy temple here on Thursday afternoon. Having satisfied with the trial run of empty compartments, the renovated winch carried the first batch of pilgrims up hill at 1.10 p.m.

The temple administration officials said that the body building unit of State Transport Corporation Limited (Coimbatore Division), had renovated the compartments and technical team had replaced shaft, bushes and gearboxes in the compartments for smooth movement.

The temple authorities had spent around Rs.12 lakh for the renovation of compartments and tracks.

With the operation of the first winch, the temple administration could reduce stagnation of crowd at the winch station. Now, all the three winches have been functioning to transport pilgrims to the hill temple.

Already, arrival of pilgrims has been increased every day, thanks to Sabarimala season. Efforts were also on to resume rope car services, officials added.

Earlier, only two winches had been functioning. The rope car services were completely suspended after an accident that killed four government officials.

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