Anticipating a further rise in footfall, the authorities have started preparations for the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season in Sabarimala that begins on November 17.
Reviewing the arrangements at Pampa, Devaswom Minister K. Radhakrishnan directed all government departments and local bodies to complete the works in a time-bound manner. As per official estimates, nearly 50 lakh devotees visited the hill shrine in the previous season.
The authorities have drawn up an elaborate security arrangement plan for the hill shrine, which envisages police deployment in six phases. In the first three phases, 2,000 policemen will be deployed in each phase and in the remaining phases, 2,500 policemen each will be deployed.
