Keralam CM sets date for Sabarimala preparations, seeks progress report

Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan along with Minister Devaswo K. Muraleedharan, Tourism Minister PC Vishnunadh, Travancore Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar, MPs Anto Antony and Kodikunnil Suresh and senior police officers review the preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season at the Pathanamkal base camp on Saturday. | Photo credit: PTI

Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Saturday (October 17, 2026) directed the departments involved in preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season to inform the government about the progress of work through their secretaries.

Mr. Satheesan reviewed the preparations for the pilgrimage season in Pampa and directed that all works at Sannidhanam, Pampa, Nilackal and other pilgrimage centers should be completed on war footing. He also asked the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to clean and properly prepare all the 21 parking areas.

Knowing that the newly constructed police barracks at Nilackal would accommodate 600 personnel, he ordered that repairs to the old barracks be completed as well.

The Public Works (Roads) Department has been asked to complete the upgradation of the Pampa-Chalakkayam road and complete the repairs of other roads within two weeks.

Police Auxiliary Station

Meanwhile, the TDB has been directed to ensure timely construction of a covered police assistance station at Nilackal and complete repairs to police facilities including Pampa and Sannidhanam mess, old Pampa police station and Sannidhanam police station.

Barricades should be installed along the Marakoottam-Saramkuthi stretch, while the PWD (buildings division) should ensure that permanent and temporary structures meet the eligibility requirements, he said.

The Chief Minister emphasized that waste management and hygiene should be given top priority. The distribution of drinking water should be carefully monitored and local government institutions should extend all possible assistance to the pilgrims.

He also called for effective coordination between all departments involved in the preparations.

Published – 17 Oct 2026 18:53 IST