The Hindu : Front Page : Temple lands converted into parking space

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Wednesday, Apr 02, 2008
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Temple lands converted into parking space

R. Srikanth

— Photo: M. Karunakaran

REVENUE EARNER: A parking yard developed by the HR and CE Department, on Taramani Link Road in Velachery, was opened on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) department has converted vacant land of seven temples in and around the city into parking yards. These were opened for public use on Tuesday.

An official of the department said the main objective of opening parking yards was to safeguard the temple land from encroachments. The money earned from the parking space will be used for temple development works. The seven locations where parking space has been established are: Taramani Link Road in Velachery; near Vadapalani Andavar Temple; Vyasarpadi; Madhavaram Main Road; on Grand Northern Trunk Road near Ponneri; Thirumullaivoyal and Irumbuliyur.

The parking fee has been worked out in two modes of six hours and 12 hours. For bicycles, the fee will be Rs.2 for six hours and Rs.4 for 12 hours; two-wheelers – Rs.3 and Rs.5; cars – Rs.10 and Rs.20; omni vans – Rs.20 and Rs.40; buses and lorries – Rs.50 and Rs.100 and heavy trucks – Rs.100 and Rs.200.

The parking yards will be open round the clock and manned by four persons. At present, tickets are being issued manually and there is a proposal to install automatic ticket vending machines soon.

According to the official, there is a possibility of setting up similar parking yards in several locations as many temples, even those located in suburban areas, owned land in the city.

The department was also evaluating the options of establishing multi-level parking facilities at some of the locations. It was also open to letting out the parking yard on a long-term lease to companies for use exclusively by their vehicles.

On the extent of land of the seven parking yards, he said the biggest of them was the Irumbuliyur facility on six acres. The facilities at most of the locations were cleared of wild bushes and the land levelled.

As and when revenue from the parking yards increased, the facilities would be further improved.

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