Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram   

Sabarimala all set for another pilgrim season

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Nov. 14. All arrangements have been made for the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival in Sabarimala, the Devaswom Minister, G. Karthikeyan, has said.

Parking will be free but the system has been revamped at Pamba to avoid traffic bottlenecks. Heavy vehicles, after unloading passengers, should be parked at Nilackal for which 50 acres of land has been allocated, the Minister said in an official release here today.Parking of other vehicles would be allowed at Pamba. A fleet of 25 KSRTC buses would operate chain service to Nilackal for pilgrims who return after darshan.

All arrangements have been made to look after the health conditions of the pilgrims. Cardiology units will function at Appachimedu and Neelimala. Hospitals with the latest equipment will function at Pamba and Erumeli. The bed strength of the hospitals has been increased. As many as 12 oxygen parlours will be opened on the Pamba-Sannidhanam route.

Mobile dispensaries will function at Pamba and Erumeli. There will be ambulance facility. Steps have been completed for supply of drinking water using pressure filter. Temporary pipelines have also been laid. Water will be distributed in tankers too, he said. The road from Pamba to Sannidhanam has been improved. Stones have been laid in the slippery stretches on the Swamy Ayyappan road and the Chandranandan road from Marakoottam. Plastic has been banned and accent has been laid on refuse management. Special uniform will be given for Devaswom staff. The project to give free food to pilgrims will begin this year, he said. A review meeting of the arrangements will be held in Pamba on Saturday.

TDB to operate bus services: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) will run three luxury buses to Sabarimala for Rs. 233 per head. Three trips will be operated from Pazhavangadi on all days at 8-30 p.m., 9 p.m. and 9-30 p.m.. Tickets can be reserved at the TDB head office and the special counters at OTC Hanuman Temple and Sreekanteswaram Temple, a TDB release said.

Tickets for `neyyabhishekam' will be provided in the buses. Resting facilities for the pilgrims who go by TDB buses have also been arranged at Sannidhanam.

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