TDB to give priority to pilgrim transit camps

SABARIMALA:  Travancore Devaswom Board president M Rajagopalan Nair said the TDB would give top priority for the development of the pilgrim transit camps on the Thiruvabharanam procession route and give thrust to the facelift of Pandalam Valiyakoickal Sree Dharmasastha temple.  Delivering the inaugural address after dedicating the “chuttuvilakku” at Pandalam Valiyakoickal Sree Dharmasastha temple on Monday,   Rajagoplan Nair said that the TDB would give thrust to providing basic facilities at the temples under the TDB on the Thiruvabharanam procession route from Pandalam to Nilackal som that the lakhs of pilgrims who accompany the procession would get the basic facilities. Nair said that the TDB sanctioned Rs 1 crore for acquiring land at Pandalam temple for providing parking facilities for the pilgrim vehicles. The TDB would  give funds for land for providing basic amenities to pilgrims in phases  at  Pandalam,  taking into consideration  the importance of the place in the pilgrimage and the visit of  lakhs of pilgrims there. The TDB would give priority to the facelift of the temple Sreekovil and the Nalambalam,  Nair said.  The “chuttuvilaku”,  built at a cost of Rs 40 lakh,   was sponsored by a Chenai-based trust.Chittayam Gopakumar MLA inaugurated the public meeting. Temple advisory committee president S  Krishnakumar presided over the function. Devaswom Commissioner N Vasu,  Devaswom  chief engineer G Rajagopal,  Pandalam palace coordination panel president Ramavarmaraja and District Panchayat member Girijakumari offered felicitations.