Ban on taking Sabarimala pilgrims in goods carriages

Special permission should be obtained for such a mode of transport

Ayyappa devotees travel in goods carrier during Sabarimal season

The Regional Transport Authority here has prohibited transporting pilgrims in goods carriages to Sabarimala and using power generators and loud speakers in vehicles without obtaining permission for the same from the authority concerned.

Regional Transport Officer C.K. Raveendranath said transporting pilgrims in goods carriages was a blatant violation of traffic and road safety rules.

To avoid accidents

He said many accidents had been reported from different parts of the State during the Sabarimala season owing to transportation of people in goods carriages.

Citing the major road mishap in which 11 pilgrims were crushed to death when a lorry carrying pilgrims from Tamil Nadu fell into a ditch at Kanamala two years ago, Mr. Raveendranath said such mishaps could be prevented by strictly enforcing the prevailing laws.

The RTO further sought cooperation of all Ayyappa devotees to avert road mishaps.

He also warned against the risk involved in taking pilgrims in autorikshaws decorated with tender palm leaves through the elephant pathways in the forests. Devotees should avoid taking autorikshaws and two-wheelers to Pampa as a safety precaution, Mr. Raveendranath added.

The RTO said the Safe Zone project, launched by the Motor Vehicle Department with a view to curb road mishaps on the main trunk roads leading to Sabarimala and to extend a helping hand to the pilgrims on the road, turned out to be a big hit.