PATHANAMTHITTA: Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan said that devotees arriving without making online bookings for Sabarimala pilgrimage should produce aadhaar card or authorized identity proof at the time of verification. He was inaugurating the ‘Sabarimala Sukhadarshanam’ debate programme at pathanamthitta press club.

“Those who come without booking will not be sent back. The police and the Devaswom Board will jointly decide how their registration should be done. The announcement will be made before November 10. Between seventy and seventy-five pilgrims will be allowed in a minute through the ‘Pathinettam Padi’. There will be a reserve of 40 lakh tins of aravana ahead of the pilgrimage. A ‘Viri Panthal’ for 4,000 people will be arranged at Sannidhanam. ECG, echo, TMT and blood tests will be conducted at Sannidhanam and Pampa. Snake catchers will be appointed to prevent snake bites. A team of 1,000 doctors will be in service.

Parking facility for 15500 vehicles

Facility will be set up at Nilakkal to park 15,500 vehicles at a time. Permission of the court has been sought for small vehicles to go up to Pamba. A thousand steel chairs will be installed for those climbing Sabarimala from Pamba. Arrangements have been made for the supply of drinking water to the devotees. E-toilets will be installed. ADGP Sreejith is in charge of security during the pilgrimage season. 13,600 policemen will be on duty.

Land has been allotted at Kulathur instead of the forest land acquired for the Sabarimala ropeway. The minister said that the construction of the ropeway will start soon. CPM district secretary KP Udayabhanu was also present.