The High Power Committee (HPC) on Sabarimala master plan, chaired by former Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar, is planning big for 2017.
Completion of the modern Annadana Mandapam with mechanised kitchen by the next Vishu festival in April, 2017, will be the immediate priority, says Mr. Jayakumar. The three-storey Mandapam will seat 5,000 persons in its ground floor.
Travancore Devaswom Board member Ajay Tharayil said the board was committed to serve superior quality food in a hygienic environment to all pilgrims for free.
Mr. Jayakumar, accompanied by Mr. Tharayil, C.P. Ramaraja Prema Prasad, Devaswom Commissioner; P.S. Jolly Ullas, HPC Chief Engineer; Krishnakumar, Executive Engineer; G.Mahesh, architect, and G. Basanthkumar, Assistant Engineer, inspected the Annadana Mandapam under construction at Malikappuram, on Sunday. Mr. Mahesh, the chief architect of the Chennai-based master plan consultants, Pithavadian and Partners Ltd., said the HPC meeting scheduled for December 14 at Sabarimala would discuss pilgrim amenities projects worth Rs.150 crore to be launched in January-February.
Mr. Tharayil said the State government had made a budget allocation of Rs.150 crore for Sabarimala development.
Construction of a pedestrian crossing at the U-Turn at Sabarimala Sannidhanam, Viripanthal Complex, Police Officers’ Complex, Emergency Evacuation Centre and water tank at Paandithavalom, extension of the Malikappuram flyover to the Annadana Nadappanthal, renovation of the Bhasmakkulam temple pond, and beautification of the Lower Tirumuttom premises, Maramath Complex, Bhandarom, are the major proposals to be discussed at the forthcoming HPC meeting.
Mr. Mahesh said the idea was to provide maximum possible open space, demolishing certain old structures unsuited for otherwise serene forest environs of Sabarimala as envisaged in the master plan.
