Thiruvananthapuram: Govt has sanctioned Rs 551.5 crore for public works department (PWD) projects as part of preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season, with priority to road safety, infrastructure development and timely completion of pending work.The sanction was accorded after a review meeting on Sabarimala preparations. Chief minister V D Satheesan approved the proposal submitted by public works minister P K Basheer after the meeting.The allocation is substantially higher than those sanctioned in the previous two financial years — Rs 377.8 crore in 2025-26 and Rs 326.97 crore in 2024-25.Basheer said the allocation included a special package to ensure safe and quality roads and better facilities for pilgrims. He said it was the first time in the last 10 years that such a large amount was sanctioned in a single instalment for Sabarimala-related road works.“The entire road development will be completed at the earliest,” Basheer said, adding that there would be no compromise on completing the work within the stipulated time frame.Work at Nilackal and Pamba that was earlier being undertaken by the devaswom board has now been entrusted to PWD, with Rs 15 crore sanctioned for the purpose.The minister said several lapses had occurred in the maintenance of Sabarimala roads since 2021 and some works weren’t carried out during previous pilgrimage seasons. The chief minister had directed officials to address the shortcomings and complete the work in a time-bound manner, he said.The package includes road infrastructure upgrades, improvement of pilgrim facilities and Rs 15 crore specifically for road safety measures. Pending work from previous years will be the priority. Crash barriers, speed breakers, reflectors and signboards will be installed at accident-prone locations.Trees and shrubs along both sides of roads will also be cleared to improve visibility and enhance safety. Govt rest houses in the Sabarimala region will be renovated and repaired before the Mandala season.Basheer said PWD would coordinate with other departments and periodically review the work progress. Completion, quality checks and safety inspections will be carried out on priority.With a large number of devotees visiting Sabarimala every year, timely completion of projects was crucial to ensuring a safe and smooth pilgrimage, Basheer said. “There will be no lapse in this regard,” he said.
