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With just over a week left for the annual pilgrimage season at Erumely to kick off, preparations have gathered momentum across key base camps of the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, which draws lakhs of devotees from across the country every year. At Erumely, the largest of Sabarimala’s base stations, the town is abuzz with activity with hundreds of temporary shops coming up in and around the town. Roadside cleaning and vegetation clearance works are also under way. Repair and maintenance works have been expedited, with pothole filling nearing completion on damaged stretches of the tarred roads. According to officials with the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), works on restoring the arch at Koratti Palam, the main entry point to Erumely will begin soon. The Public Works department (PWD), meanwhile, has prepared the signboards for installation along the roads . Police control room Renovation work has also begun on the police control room located opposite the Valiyambalam temple. The revenue control room will function from the new Smart Village office this season. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) office, meanwhile, is set to be relocated to two rooms in the devaswom board building opposite the bus stand. The Irrigation department has undertaken the removal of debris, logs, and bamboo that had accumulated at the check dam below Koratti Palam and will reinforce the structure. Temporary bunds will be constructed at Orunkal Kadavu and Karinkallummuzhi in Valiathodu before the water level drops. The Forest department has started clearing the forest pathway from Koikkakkavil to Sabarimala via Erumely as part of the pilgrimage preparations. Given the recent rise in road accidents involving pilgrim vehicles, the authorities have placed special emphasis this time on road safety along the Erumely–Elavunkal stretch. Plans are under consideration to open alternative routes to regulate traffic flow, while new directional signs, reflectors, and hazard warning boards are being installed at identified accident-prone areas. Surveillance cameras At Pandalam, a key stopover of pilgrims in Pathanamthitta, the TDB will install surveillance cameras from the Kaippuzha temple to the Manikandan Althara. A review meeting held at the Pandalam Valiyakoickal Temple Devaswom Hall on Friday entrusted the Adoor Revenue Divisional Officer with coordinating the overall arrangements. The police will oversee law and order as well as traffic management, deploying additional officers, including personnel in plain clothes. Free facilities will be arranged for pilgrims to rest and stay overnight. The Health department will set up a temporary hospital with a 24-hour medical team, and additional facilities will be provided at the Pandalam Public Health Centre. The Public Works department will complete repair works along the pilgrimage route and install direction boards. The Major Irrigation department will construct safety barricades at river ghats, while the Fire and Rescue Services will deploy safety personnel. The Food Safety and Legal Metrology departments will monitor the quality and measurement of food items. The KSRTC will run additional bus services, the Excise department’s special squad will conduct inspections, and the Water Authority will ensure the supply of clean drinking water. The Akhila Bharata Ayyappa Seva Sangham, meanwhile, has launched a scathing attack on the TDB and the State government for the delay in kick-starting preparations. “The 17 roads identified by the Kerala High Court as crucial to the Sabarimala pilgrimage, along with their 54 connecting roads, are all in shambles. It was only a few days ago that the government began repair works. Preparations at Chengannur, Erumely, and Pandalam too have made little progress,” pointed out D. Vijaya Kumar, general Secretary of the organisation.
