Thiruvananthapuram: Preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season are expected to be completed by October 31, Travancore Devaswom Board president K Jayakumar said on Thursday.
The Board is introducing AI-enabled surveillance at Nilakkal, Pamba and Sannidhanam to improve crowd and vehicle management. At Nilakkal, 26 parking areas will be reorganised into 13 groups with separate entry and exit points. An AI-based control room will monitor pilgrim movement and parking.
A shed that currently accommodates around 12,000 people will be modified to hold nearly 60,000 pilgrims. Police are spending around Rs 5 crore on crowd-control arrangements.
The Board has also focused on infrastructure and prasadam production. Civil works worth Rs 13.5 crore have been tendered, while Rs 6.75 crore has been allocated for electrical works.
Aravana production capacity is being increased from 2.6 lakh tins to 3.6 lakh tins a day after plant modernisation. The Board plans to maintain substantial buffer stocks ahead of the temple opening on November 16.
Digital payment facilities for room bookings and other transactions are also being introduced, with several banks expected to provide payment kiosks.
A four-member quality assurance team will inspect ongoing works weekly to ensure timely completion and compliance with standards.