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Sabarimala Pilgrimage Preparations to Conclude by October 31, TDB President Confirms
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News18•24-09-2026, 17:30
Sabarimala Pilgrimage Preparations to Conclude by October 31, TDB President Confirms
- •Preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season, including new arrangements at Nilakkal, will be completed by October 31.
- •AI-enabled cameras and a large control room will be installed at Nilakkal to regulate pilgrim flow and monitor parking across 13 modified parking groups.
- •The existing shed at Nilakkal will be expanded to accommodate 60,000 pilgrims, and AI cameras will also be deployed at Sannidhanam and Pamba.
- •Civil works worth Rs 13.5 crore and electrical works worth Rs 6.75 crore are underway, with a Quality Assurance Team ensuring compliance.
- •Aravana production capacity will increase to 3.6 lakh tins daily by October 31, ensuring a buffer stock of 75 lakh tins for the temple opening, with digital payment options also being introduced.
Key Questions Answered
Preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season are scheduled to be completed by October 31, as announced by TDB president K Jayakumar.
Authorities are spending nearly Rs 5 crore on crowd control and traffic management, modifying parking lots into 13 groups with dedicated entry and exit points, installing AI-enabled cameras, and establishing a large control room at Nilakkal.
The plant is undergoing modernisation—adding new dishes, cooling chambers, and boilers—to increase production capacity from 2.6 lakh to 3.6 lakh tins per day, aiming for a buffer stock of 75 lakh tins by November 16.