Kerala Steps Up Crowd Control at Sabarimala as Pilgrim Rush Intensifies
Kerala govt ramps up capacity after massive pilgrim surge.
Following days of overwhelming pilgrim influx that tested crowd-control limits, the Kerala Government on Saturday announced decisive measures to streamline operations at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple, including an immediate increase in the ascent rate along the holy eighteen steps from 75 to 85 devotees per minute to ensure smoother and faster darshan during the ongoing Mandala-Makaravilakku Season.
A high-level review meeting chaired by Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan at Pampa decided to dynamically adjust spot-booking slots based on real-time crowd flow instead of the earlier blanket cap of 5,000, while directing the Travancore Devaswom Board and police to deploy additional experienced personnel for enhanced queue management and security across Sannidhanam, Pampa, and Nilakkal.
To institutionalise coordination, daily joint review meetings will now be held at Sannidhanam under the Sabarimala Administrative Magistrate, involving all stakeholder departments, with similar sessions at Pampa and Nilakkal; immediate action on identified bottlenecks has been mandated, alongside installation of large LED screens for real-time updates and full utilisation of Nilakkal parking facilities.
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Infrastructure and welfare upgrades include round-the-clock toilet cleaning with dedicated supervisors, additional bio-toilets, strengthened drinking water supply, mandatory health check-ups and cards for hotel staff, preventive fire-safety inspections, and an advanced echocardiogram facility at the Sannidhanam health centre, while the TDB has been asked to release Rs 20 lakh to the police department as customary support.
A 140-member Rapid Action Force contingent has been stationed at Sannidhanam and Marakkoottam operating in three shifts, backed by a 24-hour Quick Response Team, as authorities aim to comfortably accommodate the expected footfall that could surpass last year’s 53.6 lakh pilgrims after nearly five lakh devotees have already visited since the season commenced on November 16.
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