SABARIMALA: Virtual queue booking for darshan, the online reservation system for darshan of Lord Ayyappa, reached an all-time high of 12 lakh on Friday as against 10 lakh on the same day during the 2016-2017 pilgrimage season.With the virtual booking reached 80 percent of the total capacity of 15.50 lakh, the pilgrims have chances of booking for the vacant slots on the lean days of November and December, a police source said.
Hundreds of pilgrims thronged the queue for the online reservation at valiyanadapandal on Friday afternoon. Police personnel were facing tough time to control the pilgrims as the normal queue for darshan extended beyond the valiyanadapandal.
The Safe Zone project, the Motor Vehicles Department’s Sabarimala route mapping and vehicle tracking system, was inaugurated by Health Minister K K Shylaja at Elavunkal control station on the Mannarakulanji-Pampa Road on Thursday. The minister also flagged off the vehicles on patrolling duty on the occasion.
The Forest Department has opened control rooms at Sannidhanam and Pampa for offering assistance to pilgrims. The control room at Pampa will offer service to pilgrims who opt for the traditional forest path of Erumeli-Karimala.