Sabarimala Pilgrimage: Preparations Intensified; Better Facilities to Be Ensured for Pilgrims
Thiruvananthapuram: Preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season will be completed within the scheduled timeframe, it was decided at a review meeting held on Friday, August 14, and chaired by Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan at the Government Guest House in Thycaud. With the possibility of a higher pilgrim turnout than last year, authorities are planning extensive arrangements across various departments.
Minister K. Muraleedharan said Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan will visit Pampa after Onam and hold a special review meeting to assess the pilgrimage preparations.
Adequate stocks of appam and aravana prasadam will be ensured to prevent disruptions in distribution. Two machines will be installed for aravana production, while additional measures will be taken to ensure uninterrupted prasadam distribution. The Food Safety Department will conduct strict inspections to ensure that pilgrims are provided with safe and quality food.
Road repair works on routes leading to Sabarimala, including roads damaged during the monsoon, will be completed on time to ensure smooth travel. The Public Works Department will undertake and complete repairs on the Chalakayam–Pampa road under the Devaswom Board. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will also arrange additional bus services.
Sanitation activities will be intensified from Pampa to Sannidhanam. Along with cleaning the Pampa River, sanitation facilities at Pampa, including toilets and cloth-washing areas, will be improved. Steps will be taken to remove unused waste materials accumulated at Sannidhanam. Hotels and other establishments will be required to segregate waste at source, with the three-bin waste management system to be strictly implemented in cooperation with the Suchitwa Mission.
The Water Resources Department will take measures to ensure a safe and adequate supply of drinking water. An NABL-accredited laboratory will be established to test the quality of drinking water. Hospital and ambulance facilities will also be strengthened. The meeting directed that police personnel deployed for pilgrimage duty be given appropriate behavioural training.
As part of the security arrangements, a special scuba team from the Fire and Rescue Services Department will be deployed. Coordination among various departments will be strengthened with the safety of pilgrims as the priority.
Facilities including temporary shelters, rest areas, annadanam, toilets and parking will be arranged at the Devaswom Board’s directly operated resting centres. Rooms under the control of various government departments will be identified, with a target of making at least 500 rooms available to pilgrims. The room allotment process will also be made fully online.
A new crowd-management system will be introduced to regulate pilgrim movement. Steps are underway to establish a Major Control Room on a pilot basis, in coordination with the police, using artificial intelligence technology and cameras to monitor and manage crowd levels.
The objective is to ensure that pilgrims do not have to remain in queues for several hours and to provide a smooth and safe Sabarimala pilgrimage through better coordination among all departments, the minister said.
MP Kodikunnil Suresh, MLAs Pazhakulam Madhu, K. U. Jenish Kumar and C. V. Santhakumar, Devaswom Secretary M. G. Rajamanickam, Travancore Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar, heads of various departments and senior officials attended the meeting.