Nilackal, which has been designated as the base camp of Sabarimala, will be the hub of transport operations from the forthcoming Mandalam-Makaravilaku season of the Ayyappa temple.
As part of the post-flood development plan, curbs have been imposed on private vehicles from ferrying devotees beyond Nilackal, en route to Pampa, which is 16 km away.
The move is aimed at decongesting Pampa from where the faithful trek to the temple.
The mantle has now fallen on the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to ferry the devotees arriving for the pilgrimage from Nilackal to Pampa and back from November 15.
The KSRTC is planning to use 10 air-conditioned battery electric vehicles and 250 low-floor buses of the Kerala Urban Road Transport Corporation, a special purpose vehicle under it, to ferry the devotees round-the-clock on the Nilackal- Pampa- Nilackal route.
“Nilackal will be the hub of KSRTC’s operations and we have decided to set up a cloakroom and light refreshment stalls for ensuring hassle-free movement of devotees arriving in private vehicles,” KSRTC Chairman and managing director Tomin J. Thachankary said.
Battery electric vehicles
Taking into account the ecologically sensitive area along the 20-km Nilackal-Pampa corridor , the KSRTC has decided to deploy the first lot of battery electric vehicles being wet-leased by it at Nilackal. These vehicles will operate every two minutes and the low-floor ordinary buses every one minute from Nilackal to the Pampa KSRTC depot and back.
“It will be a round-the-clock chain service with no stops in between. KSRTC buses from the other depots within the State and outside will go up to the Pampa depot. Online reservation of the seats will commence on November 1,” he said.
The buses operating on the Nilackal- Pampa- Nilackal corridor will not have conductors and entry will be on validation of QR code printed on the ticket.
Tickets available online
Tickets will have to be purchased online or from the KSRTC counters at Nilackal or the kiosks there and at Sabarimala. Devotees could reserve bus tickets on the official website of the Kerala Police while booking the virtual queue facility for darshan at the temple.
The return ticket from Pampa to Nilackal will be valid for 48 hours. A four-hour slot is provided for the devotees to board the bus at Nilackal taking into account all factors, including traffic snarls.
For those who fail to return within 48 hours, a fresh ticket will have to be taken to reach Nilackal.
The KSRTC is also coming up with package tours “Ayyappadarshan” for those coming by flights and trains, Mr. Thachankary said.
Air-conditioned Volvo buses will be used for transporting pilgrims arriving at the Cochin international airport and the Chengannur railway station to Pampa. Those opting for the packages will be greeted at the arrival points and taken to Pampa by KSRTC officials.
Mobile charging and Wi-Fi facility will be available in buses and arrangements will be made for darshan through virtual queue. Restroom facility and drinking water and prasadam will be provided free of charge.
Package pricing
The package from Nedumbaserry is priced at ₹1,500 and ₹900 from Chengannur. The bookings for the package tours can be done online from October 29, Mr. Thachankary said.
He said the KSRTC would also introduce non-air conditioned buses if there was demand for the packages.