The kutcha road leading to Pahari Mandir at Ratu Road in Ranchi. Pictures by Hardeep Singh

Not another Uttarakhand, please. The recent flash floods and landslides at the pilgrim destination have set alarm bells ringing across the country. And Jharkhand is no exception. Taking no more chances, the Ranchi district administration has decided to go the extra mile to ensure a smooth Shravani festival.

In order to ensure a safe month-long pilgrimage of Shiva devotees from across the city at Pahari Mandir beginning on July 23, the district administration has decided to take a few measures.

First, they will smoothen the 250ft-long kutcha road that connects to the newly built 50 steps leading to the temple. Pilgrims, who do not wish to climb the original 200-odd steps to the Shiva temple, usually take this road.

At present, pebbles, stone chips and mud on this stretch make the pilgrims’ journey nothing short of a nightmare. Since building a concrete road within such a short span of time will be impossible, the administration decided to level the path. If repaired on time, devotees this time can hope to avoid the mad rush at the original stairway.

Beside this, a 4ft high retaining wall will also be built along the kutcha road and it will protect the hill on which the Shiva temple is located from landslides. About 60 per cent of the construction work has been completed.

The district administration, however, has promised to complete the twin tasks within 15 days. Ranchi deputy commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey, who also happens to be the chairperson of Pahari Mandir Vikas Samiti, hinted that the administration wanted to avoid any type of calamity. “Albeit there is less chance of rain in our state, but it’s monsoon and we do not wish to take any risk. We will take all measures possible to prevent a landslide.”

According to Choubey, every year around 10,000 devotees throng the temple premises to offer jal during the festival. “This year the devotees will reach the temple sans any hassle,” claimed the deputy commissioner.

Apart from these arrangements, the deputy commissioner has also decided to build sheds along the entire walkway for devotees. This will protect the pilgrims from heavy downpour.

Not only the Shravani festival, the district administration is also mulling to start a beautification project at the temple. BIT-Mesra had prepared a detailed project report and the phase-wise revamp work will be taken up soon.