₹13.88 Crore Sanctioned for Road Safety Projects on Sabarimala Pilgrimage Routes
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| Pampa File Photo |
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 19: The Kerala government has sanctioned ₹13.88 crore for special road safety projects on Sabarimala pilgrimage routes ahead of the upcoming Mandala-Makaravilakku season, with a focus on strengthening safety infrastructure at accident-prone stretches.
The projects, approved by the Kerala Road Safety Authority, will be implemented through the Public Works Department (PWD) to improve road safety for pilgrims and other motorists travelling to Sabarimala during the pilgrimage season.
Administrative sanction has been granted for 60 road safety works worth ₹13.19 crore based on a proposal submitted by the Chief Engineer of the PWD Roads Wing. An additional ₹69.79 lakh has been sanctioned for special projects submitted by the Pathanamthitta District Road Safety Council.
As part of the safety measures, W-beam metal crash barriers conforming to prescribed safety standards will be installed at sharp curves and stretches alongside steep drops. The measures are intended to reduce the risk of vehicles leaving the carriageway at vulnerable locations.
The project also provides for prismatic road studs, thermoplastic road markings, intensity tapes, object hazard markers and chevron curve indicators to improve visibility and driver guidance, particularly during night-time travel.
At major junctions, solar signal systems and solar blinkers will be installed. Directional signboards, convex mirrors and hazard warning systems will also be provided at locations requiring additional safety measures.
The package further includes necessary road repairs and surface drainage works along the identified pilgrimage routes.
The works will be implemented under the PWD divisions of Idukki, Kollam, Kottayam, Muvattupuzha and Pathanamthitta, besides the Ponkunnam and Kottarakkara Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) divisions.
The priority works are expected to be completed before the commencement of the pilgrimage season, when the Sabarimala routes witness a significant increase in traffic with pilgrims arriving from Kerala and other states.
The Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season is scheduled to begin on November 16, marking the start of the main annual pilgrimage period at Sabarimala.