THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the flow of Sabarimala pilgrims to the city set to begin from next week, the City Corporation has come up with elaborate arrangements with regard to parking and other amenities. Mayor K Chandrika told a press conference here on Wednesday that the parking for buses carrying pilgrims which used to be parked in front of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple and its premises has now been arranged at Attukal temple compound as the temple zone has been declared a high-security zone.
A meeting of officials from the Traffic, KSRTC and Police was held the other day in the Corporation office where the decision was taken, she said. Considering the global attention Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple has earned in the past few months, it is for the first time such an elaborate arrangement has been thought of, the Mayor said. The KSRTC would ply more services from East Fort to Attukal temple to carry the pilgrims. The route would be to Attukal via East Fort-Attakulangara-Killipalam-Bund Road. At least 14 new services would be introduced in this route. Big buses would not be allowed parking in the security zone and pilgrims would not be allowed to sleep on the roadsides or pavements.
"Attukal temple premises were chosen as an alternative since there is facility for pilgrims to get refreshed and lodging and eatery facilities,'' the Mayor said. The Corporation has decided to instal more streetlights on the East Fort temple premises. There are a couple of hoteliers who are based in the Fort area and who have been in the business for too long, providing food for pilgrims. They would be allowed to serve food, no other hoteliers would be allowed to do business in front of the temple, she said.
The Corporation would write to the respective departments - KWA, KSRTC, Attukal Temple Trust - and others regarding the arrangements to be made. The Corporation has also decided to make use of the dumper vehicles, lying idle in its garage, to collect and remove garbage in the area.
A police aid post would be set up at Attukal East entrance near the KSRTC chief office. A special squad would check food adulteration and quality of food served in hotels during the pilgrimage season. As many as 300 traffic wardens would be deployed in the city during this season. Announcement systems would be arranged in points where the pilgrims board and alight, for which discussions have been held with the PWD, the Mayor said.
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