Temple battery cars cry for attention at Rameswaram Municipal office

Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram is visited by devotees of all ages across the country. As vehicles are now not allowed in the Mada Streets around the temple, elderly people find it hard to walk to the temple. Rameswaram Municipality had therefore bought five battery cars with a sum of Rs 30 lakh in 2013. 

A person had to pay just a meagre amount of Rs 5 to travel in it. It was driven by ex-army men. However the five battery cars maintained by Rameswaram Municipality are now dysfunctional and are lying idle in the municipal office. 

Sources at Rameswaram said that the battery cars are lying idle for close to six months. Devotees and social activists are demanding the officials to repair the battery cars and put them to use for devotees. 

Srinivasan, BJP Ramanathapuram District Secretary, said, “When the temple is visited in large numbers by the elderly, the temple management and municipality should rise up to the occasion and provide adequate battery cars.” On the other hand, five battery cars are lying dysfunctional and no effort has been taken to put them to use. This is inconveniencing the elderly and the sick. We hope some action is taken soon, rued Srinivasan.   

As Rameswaram Municipal Commissioner, Veera Muthukumar, was not available for comment, another official, on condition of anonymity, said that the battery cars had served their lifetime. 

“Even if they are repaired, they would not work well and the municipality would be forced to handle repairs often, added the official.  The officials should only go in for new cars. They should send proposals to authorities to buy them, said the official.