THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) will be launching its Safe Zone project on the main trunk roads leading to Sabarimala from Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Kottayam from the start of the annual pilgrim season.
The Safe Zone project introduced by the MVD in previous years has proved to be a success in reducing road accidents on the Erumeli-Pampa Road and the Pathanamthitta-Pampa Road.
Every year, the vehicular flow to Sabarimala keeps on increasing with time as more pilgrims visit the shrine.
Rajeev Puthalath, joint transport commissioner, said the Safe Zone project, aimed at making the Sabarimala roads accident-free zones, had yielded better results during the past pilgrim seasons. It is being implemented in association with other departments, including health, police and PWD.
The MVD will open a round-the-clock controlling office at the major roads from Erumeli and Pathanamthitta from November 16. “The department will also install cameras to monitor the vehicular traffic and location boards, with helpline numbers, at a distance of every one km on both the Sabarimala roads. If the pilgrims get stuck during their journey due to any issues, they can contact the helpline number and assistance as per their requirement will be provided,” said a transport officer.
Ready assistance arranged by the department includes ambulance and vehicle manufacture maintenance services. Special squads will be conducting round-the-clock patrolling on the Pathanamthitta-Pampa and Erumeli-Elavumkal stretches to assist pilgrims. The patrolling vehicle will be provided with a GPS tracking system by the MVD.