The high-level committee meeting convened by Devaswom and Health Minister V S Sivakumar here on Wednesday decided to make elaborate arrangements for the coming Mandalam - Makaravilakku festival at Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple.
The Minister informed the meeting that the Union Environment Ministry had given the nod for constructing a bridge on the Kanamala road where several accidents occurred in the previous pilgrimage seasons. The construction works would begin soon.
The heavy maintenance works of Sabarimala roads at a cost of `67 crore would be completed before November 10. Crash bars will be installed on accident-prone areas. More ex-service personnel will be deployed for traffic. Small vehicles of Fire and Rescue Services would be deployed at strategic locations. The virtual queue system in Sannidhanam would be strengthened. Chief Minister will open the new queue complexes between Pampa and marakoottam on October 20.
Effective sanitation works would be implemented with the help of volunteers. The works of the parallel pipeline for supplying drinking water is progressing. The renovation of Swami Ayyappan road would be completed in November. High mast lamps would be installed in Erumely. Two new hospital complexes would be constructed at Pampa and Sannidhanam using NRHM funds. More cardiologists would be pressed in to duty at Sannidhanam. The quality of hotel food will be strictly monitored by Food Safety Commissionerate officials.
Chief Secretary K Jayakumar, Additional DGP P Chandrasekaran, Devaswom Commissioner N Vasu and Principal Chief
Conservator of Forests V Gopinathan were among those who attended the meeting. A review meeting will be convened by the Chief Minister in Pampa on October 20 at 9 am.