District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad has asked the officials of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam at Simhachalam to make foolproof arrangements for the annual Chandanotsavam, scheduled to be celebrated on April 30.

Devotees should be allowed darshan in accordance with the slots, the Collector said at a review meeting with the officials on Wednesday.

The officials were instructed to ensure that devotees did not face any inconvenience during the annual festival which draws thousands of devotees from different parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and other States.

The hereditary trustee of the Simhachalam temple and those bringing ‘pattu vastrams’ (silk robes) from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanmas (TTD) for offering to the deity, Judges of Supreme Court and High Court, and donors would be allowed into the ‘Antaralayam’ only for one hour between 3.30 a.m. and 4.30 a.m.

The Collector said that a decision would be taken on allowing VIPs and others coming after 4.30 a.m. into the ‘Antaralayam’ after holding discussions with the State officials. He advised the temple officials to inform the devotees that darshan would be stopped from 6 p.m. on April 29.

Mr. Harendhira Prasad instructed the temple officials to open adequate darshan ticket counters at various places in the city for the convenience of the devotees, and to complete the sale of tickets within the stipulated time.

The special darshan tickets, priced at ₹1,500, ₹1,000 and ₹300, should bear the hologram and watermark, the Collector said and directed the police officials to minimise the number of personal vehicles to the hilltop in view of the overcrowding reported in the previous occasions.

“There should be a tab on the number of vehicle passes issued for the festival. Adequate number of buses should be arranged for the convenience of devotees,” Mr. Prasad said.

The Collector directed the temple officials to initiate measures for the establishment of a permanent police outpost atop the hill.

Police Commissioner Shankabratha Bagchi, temple EO K. Subba Rao, DRO Bh. Bhavani Shankar and Bhimili RDO Sangeeth Mathur, officials from GVMC, EPDCL, Transport Department, RTC and Revenue were among those who participated in the review meeting.