Kerala finalises roads, medical and safety set‑up for Sabarimala pilgrimage starting Nov 16

The Chalakayam‑Pampa road will be opened for the Sabarimala pilgrimage by 12 Nov, ahead of the season that starts on 16 Nov.

Arrangements

A meeting chaired by Revenue Minister A P Anilkumar at Pampa reviewed the plans. Integrated control rooms will operate round‑the‑clock at Pampa, Nilackal and Sannidhanam, with nodal officers from key departments. Crowd monitoring will cover 18 sectors at Sannidhanam and 15 sectors across Pampa and Nilackal. The Chalakayam‑Pampa road will be ready by 12 Nov and road markings will be finished by 15 Nov.

Health & Safety

Twenty‑two emergency medical centres will be active by 10 Nov, each equipped with CPR facilities. Three ambulances will stay at Sannidhanam and an off‑road ambulance will serve the forest route for the first time. A 120‑member volunteer team will handle stretcher services. Police will deploy 140 personnel, 100 special officers and 25 home guards, supported by a 24‑hour control room. KSRTC will run 60 buses initially, rising to 80 at peak, while a 24‑hour clinic at Chengannur railway station and extra hospital beds (six general, four ICU) are reserved.

Facilities

The ‘Nirmalam Sabarimala’ sanitation drive begins on 9 Nov, aiming for waste‑free main roads by 15 Nov; about 1,000 sanitation workers and the Clean Kerala Company, which has cleared nearly 50 tonnes of waste, are on the ground. The Motor Vehicles Department’s Safe Zone project adds round‑the‑clock safety patrols and a mobile workshop on the Pampa‑Laha stretch, plus an AI‑based parking system at Nilackal. Drinking water, refreshments and free toilets will be provided from day one, and a prepaid counter will regulate dolly charges. KSEB will install a fast‑charging station at Pampa capable of charging four electric vehicles simultaneously. The Devaswom Board has boosted production of appam and aravana to ensure uninterrupted supply, and an emergency operations officer is posted at Pampa for disaster response.

Context

Nearly 80 % of pilgrims pass through Chengannur, so the state has focused on food safety, water supply and medical readiness along that corridor. The extensive safety and sanitation measures aim to handle the large seasonal influx while reducing health risks.