Thiruvananthapuram: The Travancore Devaswom Board has expressed concern over disruptions in the Sabarimala darshan arrangements caused by pilgrims not adhering to their allocated time slots in the virtual queue system. To address this issue, the board plans to issue stricter warnings on virtual queue tickets and its website. Additionally, an SMS alert system is being considered to remind pilgrims of their time slots.
While the board allows some flexibility in the timings to accommodate those traveling long distances, the increasing trend of late arrivals is straining the darshan schedule. The police have emphasized that daily pilgrim numbers should not exceed 90,000 to avoid overcrowding. If footfall surpasses 80,000, the queue could stretch to Saramkuthy, and crossing this limit may push the line to Marakkoottam. In such situations, authorities may be forced to halt pilgrims at Pampa and Nilakkal, according to Board President P.S. Prashanth.
The board is considering temporarily suspending the virtual queue booking system to introduce updated regulations. However, this move would also disrupt the real-time booking counters, which currently operate 24/7 at locations like Pampa. This operational challenge has delayed the implementation of the proposed changes. The board remains committed to streamlining the process to ensure a smoother and safer pilgrimage experience for all devotees.
