Kerala govt to ensure smooth pilgrimage in Sabarimala for devotees without online registration: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], October 15 : Kerala government will ensure that pilgrims arriving at Sabarimala without online registration or awareness of the system will still have a smooth darshan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday.
He pointed out that in previous years, darshan for such pilgrims had been assured. The Chief Minister was responding to a submission made by MLA V Joy in the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
In preparation for the Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, detailed meetings were held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister and attended by the Devaswom Minister, Travancore Devaswom Board officials, police, and district administration to plan and ensure smooth pilgrimage arrangements.
"To enhance the facilities at Sannidhanam, Pampa, and the base camps for all devotees, coordination has been strengthened between departments and agencies, including the Travancore Devaswom Board, police, forest, health, public works, fire and rescue, legal metrology, disaster management, food and civil supplies, irrigation, KSEB, KSRTC, BSNL, Water Authority, and the Pollution Control Board," said Vijayan.
He said that arrangements include ambulance services at Nilakkal and Pampa, the establishment of 12 emergency medical centers, collaboration with the Forest Department to set up medical centers along the Karimala route, and ensuring the availability of cardiologists.
Road maintenance and safety measures on the forest routes have also been prioritized, along with provisions for pilgrims arriving from other states.
During a review meeting held on October 5 discussions were conducted on allowing spot bookings for darshan to ensure smooth and safe pilgrimage for all. The meeting emphasized the need to provide an accessible and secure darshan experience for all pilgrims.
To manage the crowd, the virtual queue system will include details of the path chosen by pilgrims for their pilgrimage. Additionally, provisions will be made to allow pilgrims to select less crowded days for their visit. The number of pilgrims booking for each day will be shared in advance with the district administration, police, and other departments to make necessary arrangements.
The digital records of pilgrim details collected through the virtual queue registration system will help ensure security at Sabarimala and assist in identifying individuals in case of emergencies or missing persons. The government has ensured better facilities for the pilgrimage compared to previous years.
The virtual queue system, successfully implemented in major pilgrimage centers like Tirupati, was introduced in Sabarimala in 2011. The Chief Minister affirmed that efforts are being made to further strengthen this system to ensure a smooth pilgrimage, said the Chief Minister.