Ahead of the upcoming annual Sabarimala pilgrimage season, the government has sanctioned ₹4.25 crore for urgent road safety works on key stretches in Pathanamthitta district, including the major roads that lead to the hill shrine.

The allocation, from the Kerala Road Safety Authority (KRSA) fund, is expected to facilitate safety interventions on accident-prone stretches and improve road infrastructure along routes that witness heavy pilgrim traffic during the season. District Collector A. Nizamudeen said strengthening safety measures on accident-prone stretches had been a long-standing demand of the district, particularly in view of the steady increase in the number of pilgrims visiting Sabarimala each year.

The works are expected to be completed before the commencement of the pilgrimage season. Given the limited time available, the KRSA has directed that each project be completed within the minimum period stipulated in the PWD manual.

Across the State, administrative sanction has been accorded for 60 projects submitted by the PWD for Sabarimala-related road safety works, involving a total outlay of ₹13.1992 crore. Of this, Pathanamthitta accounts for ₹4.25 crore covering 16 projects.The projects include implementing road and traffic safety measures, installation of crash barriers and other safety infrastructure at vulnerable stretches across several road sections in the district.

The largest allocation of ₹1 crore, has been sanctioned for road safety works on the Mannarakulanji–Pampa road. Funds have also been earmarked for safety works on roads under the Kozhencherry, Pandalam, Thiruvalla, Ranni, Konni and Adoor road sections.

Administrative sanction has also been granted for works costing ₹24.98 lakh on the Mannarakulanji–Plappally stretch of National Highway 183A and ₹37.04 lakh for works on State Highway 8 between Konni and Plachery.