GUWAHATI, Sept 21 - In order to control the crowds at Kamakhya Temple which is going to reopen for the public soon, the Kamrup (Metro) district administration has instructed the temple management committee to arrange a system for issuing online passes for the devotees. Under the new rule, the temple management committee can issue a maximum of 500 online passes per day. The administration has also strictly asked the committee not to issue such passes to people above 65 years and below 10 years of age. It also made it clear that in order to implement the new instructions, the temple management committee must engage skilled persons at their own cost.
The online passes will be issued on time slot basis to control the crowds. The temple authorities will issue maximum 100 online passes per hour for the devotees. A devotee will be allowed to spend 15 minutes on the temple premises. Submitting latest COVID-19 test report is mandatory for everyone to secure a pass.
But in case of any urgency, the district administration and the temple management committee will issue additional passes too, especially for VIPs. A devotee will be allowed to proceed to the temple after his/her online pass is checked by the police at the Kamakhya Nursery point.
The temple committee has also been told to arrange two holding areas for devotees. One such holding area will be at Kamakhya Nursery point and another will be near the entrance to the main temple premises. From the holding areas, the devotees will be allowed to proceed to the temple in small batches. The committee has also been instructed to arrange regular sanitization of the holding areas.
At Kamakhya Nursery point, a medical team will be placed to carry out on-the-spot COVID-19 tests for devotees. Those who furnish COVID-19 test results not more than three days old won�t be required to undergo further tests.
Again, while entering the main temple, devotees will have to sanitize their hands and will be checked with thermal scanners. The administration has also made hand sanitization mandatory for the shopkeepers near the temple.
Vehicles taken by the devotees will be allowed to travel up to the parking place located near the temple. Moreover, the police administration will regulate plying of commercial vehicles between the lower part of the Nilachal Hill and the main temple.
Again, for the time being no homestays will be allowed for devotees at the houses in and around the temple premises.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, a member of the temple management committee said it would take about a week for them to make all necessary arrangements to implement the instructions of the district administration.