Stricter rules for Sabarimala virtual queue as late arrival of pilgrims raise concerns

Thiruvananthapuram: The Travancore Devaswom Board is concerned over disruptions in Sabarimala darshan arrangements caused by pilgrims failing to adhere to the time slots allocated through the virtual queue system. To address this, a warning to follow the police instructions will be added to virtual queue tickets and displayed on the board's website, with an SMS alert under consideration.

Despite efforts to accommodate pilgrims travelling from distant locations by allowing some flexibility in timings, the rising trend of late arrivals remains a pressing issue. The police have reiterated that the daily footfall must not exceed 90,000 to prevent overcrowding. If numbers cross 80,000, the queue of devotees could extend to Saramkuthy, and exceeding this could push the line further to Marakkoottam. In such cases, authorities fear the need to halt pilgrims at Pampa and Nilakkal, according to Board President P.S. Prashanth.

The board is considering temporarily halting the booking system to implement new instructions in the virtual queue. However, this would also pause real-time booking counters, which currently operates round the clock at three centres, including Pampa. This logistical challenge has delayed the decision to introduce the changes.