Underground Cable Corridor Planned from Pampa to Sannidhanam: Joint Inspection Underway

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Pathanamthitta – A comprehensive plan is being considered to lay an underground cable corridor from Pampa to Sannidhanam, facilitating the safe and organized passage of cables belonging to various departments. The key stakeholders expected to benefit from this initiative include the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), Travancore Devaswom Board, Kerala Police, and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

The proposal for an integrated underground corridor gained urgency following the recent electrocution-related death of a pilgrim at a drinking water kiosk along the Neelimala route. In response, KSEB has already begun preliminary steps to implement an underground cabling project worth ₹8 crore. As multiple departments have essential cabling infrastructure along the Pampa–Sannidhanam stretch, the concept of a shared cable corridor is now under active consideration.

Departments Involved: KSEB's power lines, the Devaswom Board’s electric lines, police communication cables, and BSNL’s optical fiber network.

Initial Plan: The first idea was to lay the cables directly under the footpath used by Ayyappa devotees. However, concerns about potential inconvenience to pilgrims led to a revision of this approach.

Current Recommendation: The latest proposal suggests placing the corridor adjacent to the pathway rather than beneath it.

Since parts of the proposed corridor fall outside the Neelimala route and into forest land, necessary permissions from the Forest Department will be crucial. A joint inspection involving all concerned departments is planned to assess the feasibility and compliance aspects.

The project is expected to operate under the supervision of the Travancore Devaswom Board. On Swami Ayyappan Road, the board is already progressing with underground electric cabling. These lines will serve as backup power supply from generators in case of KSEB power outages along the route.

According to media reports, In a recent meeting of the Sabarimala High-Level Committee, a formal recommendation was made to prioritize underground electric distribution systems. This aligns with the current efforts to improve infrastructure and safety along the pilgrimage path.