Action needed to protect devotees from summer at Thanjavur big temple

The director of the ‘Azhagiya Thanjai’ project, auditor Ravichandran, has appealed to the government to take appropriate measures to protect devotees at the Thanjavur Big Temple during the upcoming summer season.
His petition states:
Temporary shelters with regulated queues should be erected at suitable locations identified by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) within the temple premises.
These shelters can be designed in four or five sections, which can be filled sequentially, allowing devotees to wait in the shade and proceed in an orderly manner.
Facilities such as CCTV surveillance, drinking water facilities, fans, and temporary toilets are also essential.
Furthermore, to reduce congestion and improve crowd movement, additional entry gates on the east and south sides, and dedicated exit routes on the north side can be planned.
Despite numerous petitions over the years and visits by senior officials, no action has been taken.
It is distressing to see devotees running to find shade in the open courtyard area to escape the scorching sun in the temple.
On peak and crowded days, devotees are often made to stand in queues formed by metal barricades in completely open areas. Standing in direct sunlight can be detrimental to their health.
Therefore, regulating crowd movement and providing a pathway for devotees with appropriate barricades on the five steps leading to the Mahamandapam and Ardhamandapam will improve safety.
The current crowd situation cannot be managed through routine measures alone. Devotees will face difficulties due to the summer heat.
Therefore, the Archaeological Survey of India, in coordination with the district administration and police officials, should take appropriate action.
This is because it concerns public safety at a monument of national and global importance.