The High Power Committee (HPC) for implementing the Sabarimala master plan and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) are making hectic preparations to augment pilgrim facilities at Sabarimala and Pampa during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival that begins on November 17.
Two queue complexes aimed at regulating the flow of pilgrims along the Pampa-Sannidhanam path, without putting them to any hardship, are coming up on the trekking path. Though the work started a bit late owing to delay in the felling of 59 trees after obtaining clearance from the Forest Department, both the complexes would be ready within three weeks, said Jolly Ullas, TDB Executive Engineer.
The TDB is constructing the 20-metre wide, 80-metre long queue complex at Saramkuthi while the HPC is directly monitoring the work on the other queue complex by the Steel Industries Limited, Kerala (SILK) at Sabaripeetom. Both the projects have been estimated at Rs.1 crore each, official sources said.
Additional Chief Secretary and HPC chairman K. Jayakumar said the queue complex would be of great help in streamlining the flow of pilgrims during the rush days of the festival season.
Pampa Manalppuram
The TDB has undertaken a project to lay interlocking cement pavers on the Pampa Manalppuram on the banks of the Pampa.
Mr. Ullas said the project to lay the pavers all over the Pampa Manalppuram, from Triveni area up to the steps leading to the Pampa Maha Ganapati temple, estimated at a cost of Rs.76 lakh, would be completed within two weeks. Space for growing shade trees would be left while paving the cement blocks, he said.
Service Road
Mr. Ullas said the Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom had sponsored the Rs.1.25-crore service road project between the Pampa Triveni and the Njunangar banks and that too would be ready in the next three weeks.
Resurfacing of the four-kilometre-long Chalakkayam-Pampa Road with rubberised bitumen at an estimated cost of Rs.1.86 crore was fast progressing.
New exit route
Work on the new exit road-cum-Bailey Bridge linking the Sannidhanam with the Chandranandan Road, designed by the Chennai-based Pithavadian and Partners Limited too was fast progressing. The architect has designed the road as a combination of steps and ramps with attractive solar lamps on both sides.
This road would be utilised as the exit route for pilgrims returning from the Ayyappa temple after holy darshan during the annual pilgrimage season as prescribed in the master plan, Mr. Jayakumar said.
The Madras Engineer Group of Indian Army has erected a Bailey Bridge across the small check-dam near Malikappuram at an estimated cost of Rs.75 lakh. The Kerala Police Housing Construction Corporation has undertaken the work on the road and the bridge approaches at an estimated cost of Rs.122 lakh.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate the new road at a function to be held at the Sannidhanam on November 7, Mr. Jayakumar said.
