Keralam CM sets deadline for preparations at Sabarimala, seeks progress reports

Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, along with Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan, Tourism Minister P.C. Vishnunadh, Travancore Devaswom Board president K. Jayakumar, MPs Anto Antony and Kodikunnil Suresh, and senior police officers, reviews preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season at Nilackal base camp in Pathanamthitta on Saturday. | Photo Credit: PTI Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Saturday (October 17, 2026) directed departments involved in preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season to report the progress of works to the government through their respective secretaries.Reviewing the preparations for the pilgrimage season at Pampa, Mr. Satheesan directed that all works at the Sannidhanam, Pampa, Nilackal and other pilgrimage centres be completed on a war footing. He also asked the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to clean up and properly prepare all 21 parking grounds.Noting that the newly constructed police barracks at Nilackal could accommodate 600 personnel, he directed that repairs to the old barracks be completed as well.The Public Works department (Roads) was asked to complete the modernisation of the Pampa-Chalakkayam road in a time-bound manner and finish repairs to other roads within two weeks.Police aid postThe TDB, meanwhile, was directed to ensure the timely construction of a covered police aid post at Nilackal and complete repairs to police facilities, including the messes at Pampa and the Sannidhanam, the old police station at Pampa and the police station at the Sannidhanam.Barricades should be installed along the Marakoottam-Saramkuthi stretch, while the PWD (Buildings Division) should ensure that permanent and temporary structures meet fitness requirements, he said.The Chief Minister stressed that waste management and sanitation should receive the highest priority. The distribution of drinking water should be closely monitored, and local self-government institutions should extend all possible assistance to pilgrims.He also called for effective coordination among all departments involved in the preparations. Published - October 17, 2026 06:53 pm IST