TDB sets November 10 as the date for completion of work at Sabarimala
Heavy traffic block on the Nilackal-Pampa route when the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple was recently opened for the monthly puja. | Photo credit: LEJU KAMAL
Even as concerns grow over the delay in completion of infrastructure work at Sabarimala, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has set November 10 as the deadline for completion of major works at Nilackal, Pampa and Sannidhanam before the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage.
During a visit to Pathanamthitta on Saturday, TDB president K. Jayakumar said there was no need to worry about the preparations. He reviewed the crowd management arrangements, virtual queue system, emergency operation centers and control room at Pampa besides facilities for police personnel to be deployed for the pilgrimage. District Collector A. Nizamuddin and District Superintendent of Police R. Anand were also present.
Inspection squads
The meeting also discussed waste management at source and measures to ensure the quality of food served to pilgrims. The functioning of inspection squads, whose task is to inspect pilgrimage equipment and food quality, was also assessed.
Mr. Jayakumar said that all 21 parking lots in Nilackal will be equipped with artificial intelligence cameras using the resources of the police. The work would be done by the Police Housing and Building Society, though the responsibility was to rest with the Devaswom board, he said.
The meeting also discussed a possible increase in the daily wages of workers involved in the duties associated with the pilgrimage. Mr. Jayakumar said that the remuneration of Vishuddhi Sena volunteers was increased last season and that a similar revision was being considered for daily wage workers.
However, official sources said delays in procedural formalities and persistent rain are hampering infrastructure work. The slow pace of renovation on the Chalakkayam-Pampa road, the main access road to Pampa, remains a major concern. The work started late and soon after starting had to be stopped for five days due to the month-long puja season. Rain further slowed progress.
The renovation work at Sannidhanam also remains incomplete. “The work will have to be built on a war footing to ensure its completion before the start of the mandalam season,” the official said.
Price lists
Meanwhile, the district administration has made it mandatory for all restaurants in Pathanamthitta to prominently display price lists issued by the district collector in multiple languages during the 2026-27 Sabarimala pilgrimage season.
The lists must be displayed in such a way that pilgrims can easily read them.
Published – 25 Oct 2026 19:39 IST