Devotees bound for Baidyanath temple in Deoghar (top) can take a ride on JTDC-run city buses from the capital between July 16 and August 13

Ranchi, June 30: The tourism department has joined hands with the Baba Baidyanath Temple Management Board to ensure the success of the forthcoming Shravani Mela in Deoghar.

All facilities are being put in place for devotees who will make the annual pilgrimage to Baidyanath Dham between July 16 and August 13. To begin with, the department has renovated two of its hotels — Nataraj Vihar and Hotel Baidyanath Vihar — to cope with the rush of devotees.

“On the request of the Deoghar deputy commissioner, we have decided to provide 10 city buses to ferry devotees from the capital to Deoghar,” administrator of Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC) Alok Prasad said, adding that banners were also being put up around the temple town to highlight other places of tourist interest.

Meanwhile, Deoghar deputy commissioner Mast Ram Meena said preparations for the festival were on in full swing with waterproof pandals and covered corridors being erected and electricity arranged. “As far as the construction of the bridge between Jasidih and Deoghar, which collapsed on June 12, is concerned, the state government has promised that work will be completed by July 15,” the deputy commissioner added.

As far as arrangements inside the temple premises are concerned, the members of Baba Baidyanath Temple Trust have been working over time. “Every year we make it a point to provide all facilities to the pilgrims. This year we have constructed a steel footbridge inside the temple premises to help devotees cross from one side to the other sans chaos,” said trust member Ramesh Kumar.

He added that devotees would have to queue up to make their offering, in order to avoid any last minute rush.

To make the most of the pilgrim rush, Jharcraft has decided to put up two kiosks within the temple premises to sell artefacts. “We are preparing a list of items that will be displayed during the festival,” said managing director of Jharcraft, Dhirendra Kumar.

According to trust members, as many as two lakh pilgrims offer water to the deity everyday during the festival. Over 40 lakh people attend the festival over a month.