Kerala to Allot Rs. 170 Crore for Renovation of Roads to Sabarimala.

The government has decided to sanction an amount of Rs. 170 crore for the renovation of the main roads to Sabarimala ahead of this year’s mandalam season.

As part of providing more facilities to the pilgrims, the basic amenities at Sabarimala, Pampa, Nilackel and Erumeli will be developed, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said after a high-level meeting held here on Tuesday to evaluate the preparations taken as part of the coming pilgrimage season. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, Finance Minister K M Mani, Dewaswom Minister V S Sivakumar, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash, Public Works Minister V K Ibrahim Kunju, Transport Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Social Justice Minister M K Muneer, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and officials from various departments took part in the meeting.

He said the sewage treatment plant at Sabarimala would be inaugurated on October 19. He further said that the construction of the six queue complex would be completed ahead of the pilgrimage season. Regarding the ongoing works, he said the construction of two water tanks having a capacity of 20 lakh litre each was progressing at a fast pace. “This apart, the works on a toilet complex with 120 toilets and 60 bathrooms at Sabarimala and another complex at Pampa are in the final stages. The other works in progress are the construction of an ‘annadana mandapam’ and a hotel complex,” the minister said.Sivakumar said that all arrangements had been made for parking 10,000 vehicles at Nilackel. He also mentioned that plastic would be strictly restricted at Pampa and Sabarimala. It has also been decided to deploy about 800 persons as part of the cleaning drive. He added that the work on the hospitals complex at Sannidhanam would be begin soon.

THE HINDU