The Government would ensure adequate basic pilgrim facility at Sabarimala where almost double the population of the State visit during the two-month long annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season that begins in mid-November, said Devaswom Minister, V.S.Sivakumar.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr Sivakumar said the State Government as well as the Travancore Devaswom Board and the High Power Committee (HPC) for implementation of Sabarimala Master Plan have already launched hectic preparations for the smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage season.
He said the HPC Chairman and Additional Chief Secretary, K.Jayakumar and TDB president, TDB president, M.Rajagopalan Nair, have promised to complete all the major development works under way at Sabarimala, Pampa and Nilackal as scheduled.
Bailey Bridge
According to him, the Bailey Bridge-cum-diversion road linking Sannidhanam with the Chandranandan Road would be completed by October 30.
The abutments of the bridge would be ready by September 27 and the Madras Engineering Group of the Indian Army would construct the Bailey Bridge in the next two weeks. The bridge approaches on either ends of the bridge would be a combination of steps and ramps.
The architectural design has been done by the Chennai-based Pithavadiyan and Partners Limited. The diversion route, when completed, would be of great use in regulating the human pressure at the Sannidhanam during the peak days of the pilgrimage season, Mr Sivakumar said.
Queue complex
The Minister said the work on the two queue complexes planned at Saramkuthi and along the Marakkoottom-Sabaripeetom stretch was fast progressing.
The State-run Steel Industries Kerala (SILK) Limited has undertaken the fabrication work of the 57-metre long, 10-metre wide queue complex along the Marakkoottom-Sabaripeetom stretch and HPC is directly monitoring the project.
Similarly, the 80-metre long, 20-metre wide queue complex project at Sabaripeetom is being directly implemented by the TDB works department. The two queue complexes were estimated at Rs 1 crore each, he added.
Benches will be provided inside each queue complex, besides facility for drinking water, snacks and toilets. Each queue complex would cost as many as Rs 10 lakhs.
Additional Aravana counters
The Minister said an additional Appam-Aravana sales counter will be opened near Malikappuram with a view to prevent overcrowding of pilgrims at the lower Tirumuttom.
He said the Government has set apart Rs 15 crore for implementing various projects envisaged in the Sabarimala Master Plan this year on a warfooting.
Cleaning drive
The Minister said the HPC has decided to launch an intensive cleaning at Sabarimala, Pampa and along the trekking path on October 20.
Mr Jayakumar said volunteers of certain non-governmental organisations would carry out the cleaning drive.
A total of Rs 5 crore has been set apart for the cleaning drive.
Swami Ayyappan Road
The Subramaniyam Trust has launched the development work on the Pampa-Marakkoottom Swami Ayyapan Road.
The Rs 1.5 crore project is aimed at making the road tractorable for transportation of materials for prasadom preparation at Sabarimala, he said.
The Minister, accompanied by TDB chief, HPC chairman, TDB chief engineer, K.Ravikumar and Executive Engineer, Jolly Ullas, has also reviewed progress of various development works under way at Sabarimala
and Pampa on Sunday.
Mr Sivakumar said he would visit Sabarimala to review the progress of development work there again after two weeks. Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, would convene a meeting of various departmental heads and TDB authorities soon to review the preparations for the pilgrimage season, he said.
