Travancore Devaswom Board to offer enhanced facilities, services this year

Thiruvananthapuram: For the upcoming pilgrimage season, Travancore Devaswom Board will provide extensive facilities at Sabarimala for accommodation, food offerings and health services, said devaswom board authorities after a review meeting on Monday.

The 54-room Sabari guest house, built in 1994, is being completely renovated. Staff quarters for devaswom employees at Sannidhanam were fully renovated. Renovation works are also underway at the guest house at Pamba, said the devaswom board in a statement.

The health department will provide services for devotees at Pamba, Appachimedu and Sannidhanam. Additionally, over 100 specialist doctors, led by neurosurgeon Ramnarayan, have volunteered their services under "Devotees of Doctors". Throughout the Mandala Makaravilakku season, modern equipment, including echocardiograms, will be available, and services of doctors will be accessible at Pamba and Sannidhanam.

Last year, food offerings were provided to over 15 lakh people. This time, arrangements have been made to provide food offerings to over 20 lakh Ayyappa devotees at Sannidhanam, said devaswom board. The devaswom board has also arranged parking facilities for about 16,000 vehicles at Sabarimala. An additional 2,500 vehicles can be parked at Nilackal, where there is already space for around 8,000 vehicles. The parking at Nilackal will be entirely fast tag-enabled. The fast tag facility will aid in the smooth and quick transit of vehicles, and devotees are encouraged to use this facility, the statement said.

Court permission was granted for parking at Pamba hilltop and Chakkupallam during the monthly pooja. Parking for 2,000 vehicles is available at these locations. Efforts will be made to arrange parking at these locations during the Mandala Makaravilakku festival with court approval. Six-and-a-half acres owned by the housing board in Erumely will be used for parking. At Nilackal, three ex-servicemen per ground have been assigned for traffic management across 17 parking grounds, ensuring more than 100 personnel, said devaswom board statement.