Renovation, cleaning works undertaken around Meenakshi temple ahead of consecration
Aug 17, 2026, 11.33 PM IST
Madurai: For the first time in 17 years, the consecration ceremony for the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple will be held on September 17. Ahead of the ceremony, renovation and cleaning works are being carried out on the streets surrounding the temple.
The Masi, Chithirai and Avani Moola streets are seeing intensified cleaning, with garbage being collected around every five hours during the day, and a drive during the nights. Dust clearing is also being carried out with a dedicated dust-sweeping machine being used on these streets to curb pollution around the temple.
Apart from the intensified cleaning work, a Rs22.2 lakh project has been scheduled by Madurai corporation for the renovation of these streets.
A senior corporation official said a report is being prepared on the condition of the paver blocks and roads in the area surrounding the Meenakshi temple. “Patchwork on the roads and replacement of the paver blocks in the area will be done by the end of the month, well in time for the consecration ceremony,” the official said.
Underground drainage pipelines on these streets are also being constantly monitored using mapping software, for any breaks or leaks. A sewage pumping vehicle is kept ready for deployment to address any overflows and cracks in the pipeline immediately. “Some of the streets are too narrow and difficult to navigate for the large pumping vehicle, in which case sanitation workers will be sent to handle the issue,” the official said.
Welcoming the initiatives, P Mahesh, a resident of Jaihindpuram, said the narrowness of these streets was worsened by illegal parking and encroachments on roads and footpaths, forcing pedestrians onto the carriageway amid traffic. “Traffic disruptions can be reduced significantly by enforcing parking restrictions and removing unlicensed vendors from these streets, at least during festival times,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tangedco is also working to remove electric poles and move the cables underground using low-tension cables as a precautionary measure because of the large crowds expected for the ceremony. “During festival days, electricity is sometimes shut down for hours around the temple to prevent any incidents. The underground cables will remove the need for this,” a Tangedco official said.
The Masi, Chithirai and Avani Moola streets are seeing intensified cleaning, with garbage being collected around every five hours during the day, and a drive during the nights. Dust clearing is also being carried out with a dedicated dust-sweeping machine being used on these streets to curb pollution around the temple.
Apart from the intensified cleaning work, a Rs22.2 lakh project has been scheduled by Madurai corporation for the renovation of these streets.
A senior corporation official said a report is being prepared on the condition of the paver blocks and roads in the area surrounding the Meenakshi temple. “Patchwork on the roads and replacement of the paver blocks in the area will be done by the end of the month, well in time for the consecration ceremony,” the official said.
Underground drainage pipelines on these streets are also being constantly monitored using mapping software, for any breaks or leaks. A sewage pumping vehicle is kept ready for deployment to address any overflows and cracks in the pipeline immediately. “Some of the streets are too narrow and difficult to navigate for the large pumping vehicle, in which case sanitation workers will be sent to handle the issue,” the official said.
Welcoming the initiatives, P Mahesh, a resident of Jaihindpuram, said the narrowness of these streets was worsened by illegal parking and encroachments on roads and footpaths, forcing pedestrians onto the carriageway amid traffic. “Traffic disruptions can be reduced significantly by enforcing parking restrictions and removing unlicensed vendors from these streets, at least during festival times,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tangedco is also working to remove electric poles and move the cables underground using low-tension cables as a precautionary measure because of the large crowds expected for the ceremony. “During festival days, electricity is sometimes shut down for hours around the temple to prevent any incidents. The underground cables will remove the need for this,” a Tangedco official said.