{
  "id": 18723656,
  "title": "Sabarimala gets major security boost ahead of pilgrimage season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/sabarimala-gets-major-security-boost-ahead-of-pilgrimage-season",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T13:56:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/sabarimala-gets-major-security-boost-ahead-of-pilgrimage-season/article71678250.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Keralam government has significantly bolstered security measures for the annual Sabarimala pilgrimage season, which commences next month. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced the enhancements, disclosing a ₹3.60 crore allocation for the initiative.\n\nPolice personnel deployed at Sabarimala will now receive double the luggage allowance, from ₹300 to ₹600, and a daily mess grant has been increased to ₹90. Home Minister Chennithala reviewed security arrangements during his inspection of the pilgrimage zone, which encompasses three key sectors: Sannidhanam, Pampa, and Nilackal.\n\nADGP P. Vijayan, IPS, has been appointed as the nodal officer to coordinate the security measures. A new barrack capable of housing over 700 police personnel has been built at Nilackal, following the completion of the Sabarimala master plan. Facilities at Nilackal, including mess arrangements, have been expanded to accommodate approximately 1,750 personnel who will be deployed there.\n\nAn artificial intelligence-based smart parking system will be implemented at Nilackal to streamline vehicle management. The government has earmarked ₹3 crore for this project. Additionally, ₹13 lakh has been set aside for a wrist-tag initiative aimed at preventing children accompanying pilgrims, especially those traveling from other states, from becoming separated from their families amidst the crowds.\n\nTemporary police stations will be established at Sannidhanam, Nilackal, and Vadaserikkara to ensure law and order during the pilgrimage season. A proposal for a permanent police station at Vadaserikkara is currently under active consideration by the government.\n\nPolice patrolling along traditional trekking routes and at transit points will be intensified. Anti-sabotage checks, crowd-management barricades, CCTV surveillance, and improved intelligence monitoring will be integral components of the security arrangements.\n\nLiquor, narcotic substances, and tobacco products sales and consumption have been prohibited in the Poonkavanam region around the Sabarimala temple from November 15 to January 20, 2027. This ban applies to multiple areas in Perunad village of Ranni taluk, including Chalakayam, Pampa, Thriveni, Karimala, Neelimala, Sabaripitham, Marakoottam, Sannidhanam, and Nilackal, as well as Pampavalley in Kollamula village, excluding Arayanjilimann. Temporary excise range offices have begun functioning at Sannidhanam, Pampa, and Nilackal, with a control room managed by an Assistant Excise Commissioner set to commence operations at Pampa on November 15. The Excise, Police, and Forest departments have launched joint inspections and raids in Pampa and surrounding areas, with warning boards announcing the ban displayed in multiple languages across the region. The Excise department will carry out round-the-clock vehicle checks along the Mannarakulanji-Pampa stretch, and two striking units have been deployed in the district to strengthen enforcement.",
  "summary": "The initiatives include an AI-based smart parking system at Nilackal to streamline vehicle management, wrist-tag initiative for children accompanying pilgrims, and setting up of temporary police stations",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}