The ghat road leading to the hill shrine of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam on Indrakeeladri will remain completely closed to vehicular traffic from May 28 for repair works, temple Executive Officer V. K. Seena Naik announced on Wednesday.

The EO said the decision was taken to ensure the safety of devotees during the repair works, which will be carried out by the Andhra Pradesh Roads and Buildings Department over the next 15 days.

Reviewing the arrangements at a high-level meeting held in his chamber on Wednesday evening, Mr. Seena Naik directed officials to put in place alternative facilities for devotees visiting the temple. He said devotees would be allowed to reach the hill shrine through alternative routes from the Sri Kanaka Durga Nagar side.

As part of the arrangements, the existing protocol office on the ghat road will be shifted immediately to the newly constructed building at Sri Kanaka Durga Nagar at the foothill.

The temple administration will operate free battery-operated vehicles from the new protocol office for the convenience of devotees. Additional staff and security personnel have been deployed from the protocol office up to the Maha Mandapam to regulate pilgrim movement and prevent congestion.

Officials said a special darshan point has been arranged near the Maha Mandapam for protocol devotees. Separate arrangements have also been made to ensure that devotees attending daily rituals and sevas do not face inconvenience.

Continuous announcements regarding the closure of the ghat road and the alternative access routes will be made through the temple’s public address system to guide devotees.

Alternative parking arrangements have been made near the municipal office premises. Temple buses will operate continuously from Seethammavari Paadalu, Kummari Palem Centre and Punnami Ghat to transport devotees to the temple.

Mr. Seena Naik clarified that access through the lift route would be restricted to senior citizens, differently abled persons and mothers carrying infants. Other devotees have been advised to use the Maha Mandapam steps route to reach the hill shrine.