KUALA LUMPUR: The Batu Caves Hindu Temple Management will build an escalator at the tourist attraction this year, as an alternative to the 272 steps for devotees and visitors to reach the Sri Subramaniar cave temple in Gombak, Selangor.
The temple committee chairman, R Nadarajah, said the escalator is one of two projects that will begin after Thaipusam, along with the construction of a multipurpose hall estimated to cost RM35 million (US$7.4 million). Thaipusam falls on Jan 25.
“We hope the government would assist us since this will allow the disabled and elderly who are unable to climb the steps to reach the main temple,” Nadarajah said during a press conference with Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong on Friday (Jan 19).
Sim also said the ministry will send 200 volunteers to the Batu Caves to assist the temple committee in managing logistics during Thaipusam. The volunteers will also set up a booth to provide employment information and enrol Indian youths for technical courses.