Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister V D Satheesan said preparatory work must be completed before the Sabarimala pilgrimage begins this year. He directed officials to ensure that devotees face no shortage of essential facilities or security arrangements.Speaking at a review meeting held ahead of the Sabarimala mandala and makaravilakku pilgrimage season, Satheesan said, “Cleanliness drives must be carried out at Pamba, Sabarimala and the transit camps. Clothes piling up at Pamba should be removed promptly from time to time. The availability of materials needed for prasadam distribution must be ensured. Structural safety of buildings, fire protection systems and electrical safety must also be guaranteed.”KSRTC will operate 500 buses, while Railways will run 300 special trains. PWD will undertake road projects worth Rs 551 crore. Meanwhile, the devaswom board will increase aravana production to 3.25 lakh containers a day and stock 70 lakh units before the season. Appam packing will be mechanised, and all Sabarimala-related services will be digitised, he said.Satheesan said that a joint control room involving all departments be set up at Sannidhanam and construction work on transit facilities directly handled by Travancore Devaswom Board should be expedited.“Parking grounds should be cleared. The devaswom board must ensure accommodation for govt personnel, including police and health workers, stationed at Sabarimala,” he said.He also directed that barricades should not be placed in a manner that could endanger devotees.Other measures planned include a Rs 2 lakh LIC insurance scheme for families of devotees who die during the pilgrimage, improved housekeeping and sanitation, 600 new bio-toilets, food-waste processing facilities, shelters at Nilakkal, AI surveillance cameras costing Rs 3 crore, deployment of 5,000 police personnel and a 24-hour control room.As many as 22 emergency healthcare centres will function during the pilgrimage season. The water authority said Sabarimala would no longer have to depend on tankers for drinking water once the new plant at Seethathode becomes operational. Railways have announced 300 additional train services. The review meeting also decided to conduct awareness campaigns in other states to discourage devotees from abandoning clothes at Pamba.
