Free e-vehicle service for devotees at Kapaleeswarar temple

Senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women, who need to get to the Kapaleeswarar temple from the tank bus stop in Mylapore or reach the bus stop from the temple, now have a low-floored e-vehicle. They will be picked up and dropped off at the Eastern gopuram of the temple. The cart will not operate inside the temple.

Donated by the Karur Vysya Bank under its CSR funds, the e-vehicle, which can seat five persons, is among the three carts given by the bank at a total cost of ₹17.91 lakh. The other vehicles are meant for the Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai and the Subramaniaswamy Temple in Thiruchendur.

G. Munusamy, one of the office assistants of the Kapaleeswarar temple, who takes turn to drive the vehicle with Dakshinamurthi, said that local residents are aware of the service. “Those walking to the temple via the mada streets know that this is a free service. We also plan to paste stickers on the vehicle. People going shopping will not be picked up,” he said.  

Minister P.K. Sekarbabu, who received the vehicle keys from P. Janardhanan, Divisional Manager of the Bank, in the presence of other officials, said this was one more service for devotees being implemented. “Many times, we see senior citizens struggling to walk on the mada streets, especially in the sun. They get off at the bus stand and cannot afford to take autorickshaws,” he said, adding that the service would be available in the mornings and evenings when the temple is open.