�Adilabad: Devotees visiting the Sri Gnana Saraswati temple at Basar can expect major improvements in safety, security, and amenities, as the endowments department prepares to implement a comprehensive master plan for the shrine’s redevelopment.
Safety concerns escalated after five young pilgrims from Hyderabad drowned while taking a holy dip in the Godavari at the temple ghats. To prevent similar tragedies, officials will widen existing queue lines, create additional lanes, and expand open areas within the temple complex. Enhanced safety measures are also planned at the Pushkar ghats, and new accommodation blocks will be constructed to meet the growing demand from pilgrims.
According to the proposal, the temple’s south entrance will be closed, and devotees will instead enter through a newly built queue complex on the east, leading to the northern prakaram. Designed to hold up to 6,000 people, this complex should significantly shorten wait times that currently stretch to six or seven hours on festival days. Portions of the hillside and the existing koneru (temple tank) will be repurposed to facilitate the expansion.
Endowments minister Konda Surekha, who recently inspected the site, said the state government intends to develop Basar on par with Yadadri, pending discussions with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. Pilgrim numbers have risen sharply in recent years, with visitors arriving not only from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh but also from Karnataka and Maharashtra. On Vasantha Panchami alone, considered the birth star of Goddess Saraswati, more than 70,000 devotees thronged the temple on 3 February 2025, many performing the traditional aksharabhyasam initiation for their children.
In-charge executive officer K. Sudhakar Reddy told Deccan Chronicle that a dedicated toilet block will be built at the Godavari ghat and security along the riverbank further tightened. The master plan will move forward once it receives final approval, or revisions, from the Chief Minister.
A previous allocation of Rs 40 crore by the BRS government for temple development was reportedly diverted to other projects; officials say the current administration is committed to securing the funds needed to transform Basar into a modern, pilgrim-friendly facility.
