Kerala HC proposes extended timing in Sabarimala to manage crowd rush

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Sunday issued a slew of directions to the police and temple authorities aimed at managing the crowd rush and control of vehicular traffic at Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala.

The court said that the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in consultation with the tantri of Sabarimala could consider keeping the sanctum sanctorum open for an additional 30 minutes or an hour.

The court's direction was on the grounds of the hike in footfall of devotees, during the ongoing pilgrimage season.

The upsurge in footfall after lifting the Covid related restrictions resulted in crowd management and traffic control issues. On Saturday, around one lakh bookings were made through the virtual queue system, and the rush caused minor injuries to a few police personnel on duty.

A bench constituted by Justice Anil K Narendran and PG Ajithkumar held a special sitting and directed the district Collector and the Police chief to set up a crowd management plan, if the expected footfall crosses the 75,000 mark a day, on consultation with the Tranvancore Devaswom Board and the Special Commissioner Shabarimala.

The court also directed the police to carryout motorcycle patrolling when the traffic is blocked for longer periods.

"In case the movement of vehicles is blocked for a considerably long period, the Travancore Devaswom Board shall make necessary arrangements for providing chukkuvellam (water) and biscuits to pilgrims in such vehicles," the bench said.

Further the bench directed that prior notice should be give through announcements when the parking grounds reaches its maximum capacity and should regulate the entry of vehicles.

The court's directions came on three separate pleas initiated by it on its own. One of them was regarding the management of the virtual queue system. The other two were based on individual complaints on restrictions on entry of vehicles from Nilakkal to Pamba, and difficulties faced by pilgrims at Nilakkal and Pamba in the absence of a queue system for the passengers boarding Kerala SRTC buses.

The 41-day Mandala puja festival will conclude on December 27. Thereafter, the temple will be opened again on December 30 for the Makaravilakku pilgrimage, which will end on January 14, 2023. The shrine will be closed on January 20, 2023 concluding the pilgrimage season.

-PTI Inputs