Devotees in Salem urged the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department to open the marriage hall constructed on the land belonging to the Sri Sugavaneswarar Temple.

The Salem Sugavaneswarar Temple, one of the important temples in the district, attracts thousands of devotees. During auspicious days, over 100 marriages take place in the temple. Due to space constraint, devotees demanded a marriage hall, as the temple own lands in various places of the city.

Based on the demand, the HR&CE Department identified the land at Dr. Subbarayan Road and constructed a marriage hall. It was inaugurated on June 18, 2025, by former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. While one year has passed, the hall is yet to be opened for public use.

Devotee and the Salem district Janata Dal (Secular) president G. Velayudham said the construction of the hall started in the AIADMK regime and was completed in the DMK regime. Multiple petitions have been submitted to the officials to open the hall, but no action has been taken. Mr. Velayudhan said that an official claimed that some work was pending. But when he visited the hall, all works were completed. “The new government should take immediate steps to open the marriage hall and establish a minimum rent for its use,” he added.

Social activist N. Gnanavel said taxis occupy the space in front of the marriage hall for parking and children are playing inside the hall’s premises. He emphasised that before people occupy the premises to engage in anti-social elements, the government should open it for public use. “If this hall opens, it will be one of the big marriage halls in the city, and people will throng for booking, which will increase the revenue of the temple,” he added.

Salem HR&CE officials said that an application was given to get new electricity connection for the hall. To fix the rent, a file was sent to the higher officials and are waiting for the reply. Some additional work is also ongoing, the official said, adding that the hall will be opened within a month.