Sabarimala gets major security boost ahead of pilgrimage season

File photo of the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. | Photo Credit: PTI

The Keralam government has doubled the luggage allowance for police personnel deployed at Sabarimala from ₹300 to ₹600 and raised their daily mess grant to ₹90.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the government had sanctioned ₹3.60 crore for the measures. He was reviewing the security arrangements for the annual pilgrimage season at the hill temple, which begins next month.

The police have divided the pilgrimage zone into three sectors, namely the Sannidhanam, Pampa and Nilackal. ADGP (Law and Order) P. Vijayan, IPS, has been designated as the nodal officer to coordinate the arrangements.

New barrack

A new barrack capable of accommodating more than 700 police personnel has been completed at Nilackal as part of the Sabarimala master plan. Facilities, including mess arrangements, have also been expanded to cater to the nearly 1,750 personnel to be deployed there.

An artificial intelligence-based smart parking system will be introduced at Nilackal to streamline vehicle management. The government has allocated ₹3 crore for the project.