Sun Dec 08 18:26:59 UTC 2024: ## ₹69-Crore Plan Unveiled for Villianur Temple Upgrade
**Puducherry, December 8, 2024** – A ₹69-crore project to develop the Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple in Villianur as a major pilgrimage destination has been submitted to the Indian government. The proposal, prepared by a Mumbai-based consultancy, was presented by Puducherry’s Leader of the Opposition, R. Siva, to a representative of the Tourism Department.
The temple, situated on the banks of the Sankarabarani River, attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees annually and is also significant for ancestral rites. Following years of advocacy, the temple was included in the central government’s Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme.
The comprehensive project report outlines plans for significant infrastructure improvements, including a community hall, shopping complex, improved access to the ghat, a dedicated mandapam for ancestral rites, and expanded parking facilities. Mr. Siva met with the consultancy representatives at the temple to discuss the proposed upgrades before submitting the report. The plan will now be forwarded to the central government for approval.
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