Sabarimala Review Meeting: TDB Revises Tender Conditions; Takes Direct Control of Supply Transport and Quality Checks
Thiruvananthapuram: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has approved major changes to the tender conditions for Sabarimala, placing the Board in direct control of the storage, quality inspection and transportation of essential supplies. The decision comes amid ongoing scrutiny over alleged irregularities in the supply and transportation of ghee to Sabarimala.(sabarimalauptodate.in)
The revised tender conditions were approved at a TDB meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. TDB president K. Jayakumar chaired the meeting, which was attended by Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan, MLAs, senior TDB officials and heads of various government departments.
Under the revised system, contractors will no longer be required to transport supplies directly to Sannidhanam. Instead, they must deliver the materials to Pamba and hand them over to the Devaswom Board.
The supplies will be stored at the Board's facility in Pamba and subjected to quality checks before being cleared for transportation. Only materials that meet the prescribed quality standards will be taken to Sannidhanam. The Board will assume responsibility for transporting the approved materials from Pamba to Sannidhanam.
The TDB will purchase two dedicated tractors exclusively for transporting puja materials and other essential supplies. Senior Board officials will also oversee the storage and handling of materials at Pamba and Sannidhanam.
The changes follow the Devaswom Vigilance investigation into alleged irregularities involving ghee supplied to Sabarimala. The preliminary findings have raised suspicion that ghee supplied by Milma may have been replaced during transportation after quality inspection, with lower-quality ghee allegedly being substituted. The revised system is intended to prevent such unauthorised handling and establish greater accountability in the supply chain.(sabarimalauptodate.in)
Preparations for Increased Pilgrim Footfall
The review meeting also assessed preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season, with the government expecting pilgrim numbers to increase compared with the previous season.
Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan directed the TDB and various departments to complete preparations within the stipulated timeframe and strengthen inter-departmental coordination to ensure smooth and hassle-free darshan.
The minister also directed the Board to maintain adequate stocks of Appam and Aravana prasadam. The issue was discussed in the context of delays in tender procedures for procuring materials required for prasadam production.
TDB president K. Jayakumar said two machines would be installed for Aravana production to ensure an uninterrupted supply during the pilgrimage season.
Food safety arrangements will also be strengthened. The Food Safety Department will conduct strict inspections to monitor the quality of food supplied to pilgrims, while the Health Department will enhance hospital and ambulance facilities.
Roads, Water and Waste Management
Road repair and maintenance works, including restoration of roads damaged during the monsoon, will be completed before the pilgrimage season. Cleaning operations along the route from Pamba to Sannidhanam will also be intensified.
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) plans to deploy 500 buses on the Nilakkal-Pamba route to facilitate the transportation of pilgrims during the pilgrimage season.
A three-bin waste segregation system will be strictly implemented in the Sabarimala area with the support of the Suchitwa Mission.
The Water Resources Department will ensure the availability of safe drinking water for pilgrims. An accredited laboratory will also be arranged to conduct water-quality testing.
The meeting further directed that police personnel deployed for pilgrimage duty receive behavioural training to ensure better interaction with devotees.
Expanded Safety and Pilgrim Facilities
A special scuba team from the Fire and Rescue Department will be deployed as part of the pilgrimage safety arrangements.
Transit centres managed directly by the Devaswom Board will have facilities including shelters(edathavalams), rest areas, Annadanam, toilets and parking.
The authorities will also identify rooms under various government departments and make at least 500 rooms available to pilgrims. The allotment of these rooms will be carried out entirely through an online system.
A new crowd-management mechanism will also be introduced on a pilot basis. A major control room will be established in coordination with the police, using artificial intelligence and camera-based monitoring to track and manage crowd movement.
The system is aimed at reducing waiting times and long queues while improving the safety and movement of pilgrims.
Chief Minister's Review at Pampa
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan will visit Pampa and hold a special review meeting after the Onam celebrations, Muraleedharan said. The meeting will assess the progress of preparations and address any remaining requirements ahead of the pilgrimage season.
The review covered arrangements across multiple departments, with authorities focusing on procurement, prasadam production, transport, roads, healthcare, sanitation, drinking water, accommodation, security and crowd management to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage.