Kochi: The Kerala High Court has directed the NHAI, police and the Kollam district administration to coordinate and remove any unauthorised encroachments and illegal parking on the NH744 near the Aryankavu Sree Dharmasastha Temple where Lord Ayyappa is worshipped.

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A bench of justices Raja Vijayaraghava V and K V Jayakumar gave a direction to ensure the entire stretch of NH 744 to the temple, near the Keralam-Tamil Nadu border, is maintained in a safe and traffic-worthy condition, especially in view of the upcoming pilgrimage season.

The court further said that the formulation of an action plan and the conduct of review meetings must translate into effective action on the ground.

It directed the authorities concerned to ensure that all unauthorised encroachments are removed, illegal parking is prevented, and the road margins are kept free from obstructions.

"These measures assume particular significance during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season, when there is a substantial increase in the movement of pilgrims and vehicles along this stretch," it said.

The court issued the directions in a petition initiated by it on its own following a report by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner regarding the unauthorised encroachment of the National Highway road margin adjacent to Aryankavu Sree Dharmasastha Temple, where the principal deity is Lord Ayyappan in the form of a teenager.

During the proceedings, the police told the court that it has taken up the issue of the unauthorised encroachments along the NH744 with the Kollam District Collector.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Mathrubhumi and is published from a syndicated feed.)