Sabarimala Mandala Season Preparations: High-Power Committee Meeting Held Today
Thiruvananthapuram: A meeting of the Sabarimala High Power Committee is being held in Thiruvananthapuram today to review the progress of the Sabarimala Master Plan and assess preparations for the upcoming Mandala pilgrimage season.
The meeting is chaired by former Kerala High Court Judge Justice V.G. Arun. The committee is reviewing infrastructure development and long-term projects aimed at improving facilities and ensuring a safer and more convenient pilgrimage for the millions of devotees visiting Sabarimala every year.
As part of the broader development roadmap, the government has set a target of completing 10 major projects by 2030. The projects are focused on strengthening infrastructure at key pilgrimage centres, including Sannidhanam, Pamba and the trekking routes leading to the hill shrine.
One of the major projects under consideration is the construction of a new bridge at Pamba. The proposed bridge is expected to improve connectivity and facilitate the movement of pilgrims, particularly during the peak pilgrimage season.
The High Power Committee also oversees the coordination of infrastructure development, crowd management and other arrangements necessary for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
Meanwhile, the Travancore Devaswom Board is also holding a meeting today to discuss comprehensive preparations for the upcoming Mandala season. The discussions are expected to cover pilgrim facilities, crowd management, accommodation, transportation and other essential services.
Talks are also expected to be held on improvements to the Annadhanam menu at Sabarimala, with the focus on enhancing the food arrangements and facilities provided to devotees during the pilgrimage season.
The TDB has recently initiated a comprehensive overhaul of procurement and auction procedures at Sabarimala. As part of the reforms, the Board plans to introduce e-tendering and e-auctions while discontinuing direct bidding practices.
The move is aimed at making procurement and auction procedures more transparent, efficient and accountable. The reforms are expected to bring greater standardisation to the Board's tendering and auction processes.
The Mandala season is one of the most important pilgrimage periods at Sabarimala, attracting large numbers of devotees from across Kerala and other parts of the country.
The infrastructure projects and administrative reforms are part of the state's broader efforts to improve the management of Sabarimala and modernise facilities at Sannidhanam, Pamba and along the trekking routes. These initiatives are expected to play an important role in ensuring a safer, smoother and more convenient pilgrimage experience for devotees.