Sabarimala: Projects worth Rs 22 crore awarded

PATHANAMTHITTA: The high-power committee on Sabarimala infrastructure development has awarded projects worth Rs 22 crore for improving basic facilities for Sabarimala pilgrims during the forthcoming Mandalam-Makarvilakku season.Additional Chief Secretary and chairman of the high-power committee K Jayakumar told Express that the works had already been awarded on the condition that the projects should be completed before the beginning of the next pilgrimage season.QUEUE COMPLEXJayakumar said the work on  queue complex, the most important project for reducing the hardships faced by the pilgrims during the peak season days, was awarded to public sector unit Steel Complex.The Rs 1.30-crore queue complex would be set up between Sabaripeedom and Marakoottam, Jayakumar said.He said that the queue complex, having a capacity to accommodate 5,000 pilgrims at a time, would have basic facilities like toilets, medicated drinking water and resting place.APPROACH ROADJayakumar said that the work on Rs 1.20-crore approach road for the Army Bailey bridge had already been awarded by the Kerala Police Housing Corporation.The work was awarded to the corporation with the stipulation that the project should be completed before August 31 so that the Army could begin their work on the construction of the Bailey bridge, he said.Jayakumar said that directive was issued  to ensure that the work was completed within the stipulated time.NILACKAL PARKING AREAJayakumar said that the work on various projects, including the levelling the surface of the parking area,  has already been awarded.The Rs 19-crore work, which included, widening and resurfacing of roads inside the parking area of the four sectors meant for pilgrim vehicles from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, would be completed before the beginning of the next season, he said.Development of new water sources,  water storage tanks, supply lines, public taps and toilet complexes would be the other works included in the scheme, Jayakumar said. The renovation of Nilackal Sree Mahadeva temple and Palliyarackavu Devi temple would be done at a cost of about Rs 2 crore, Jayakumar said.