Visitors to this much hallowed place should not leave with a bitter experience

Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple faces issues with sewage, parking congestion, lack of visibility, and inadequate toilets.

Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, which is one of the important tourist attractions in the State, witnesses a footfall of several lakhs every year from across the country and a considerable number from other countries too.  

The temple complex forms the heart of Madurai around which wholesale and retail shops, eateries and a plethora of other commercial establishments are situated in concentric squares of streets, keeping the city busy all through the day.  

Many cosmetic changes like paver-blocked roads and ornamental lights were provided under Smart Cities Mission in the recent years. Still, some civic issues persist. When the stretch of road from East Avani Moola Street to Thalavai Agraharam was improved four years ago, the road was made a slope towards the Simmakkal side to prevent inundation. But this has given rise to a new problem - now sewage oozes out from an underground drainage right near the junction.  

N. Allaudin, a trader, says that since many of the devotees walk barefoot to the temple, they are aghast on seeing drainage flowing on the path.  “This is the only way to the temple from the parking area. A few days ago, about 100 devotees, who were carrying ‘paal kudam’ to the temple, felt queasy on seeing the mess and sidestepped on to the ‘four-foot high’ platform. 

To ease congestion caused by parking of vehicles on streets around the temple, a multi-level parking facility was built under Smart Cities Mission.  It has not achieved the desired results.  

A security guard of the multi-level parking facility says many devotees, particularly from other States, are not ready to pay the parking fee and they just park their vehicles on the roadside for days together.  “These vehicles block the road, the reason why there is a traffic jam all the way from North Avani Moola Street to West Avani Moola Street. Same is the case with devotees staying in lodges. Instead of paying the parking fee of ₹300 a day, they park their vehicles on both sides of the already narrow roads,” he says. 

Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president N. Jegatheesan says, “As Masi streets are wider, they can be used for parking four-wheelers, and the Avani moola streets for two-wheelers. Odd day-even day formula could be tried out on these streets so that business is not affected when parking is done only on one side of the road all the time.”