Koch: The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will set up clock rooms at Pampa and Nilackal to facilitate Sabarimala pilgrims leave their belongings in safe custody during the upcoming Mandala-Makaravilakku season.
"Unlike the previous years, the pilgrims can't travel beyond Nilackal in private vehicles. Hence we're extending the facility to keep their other belongings and proceed to the hill shrine carrying only 'Irumudikettu'. Also the devotees can do away with the need to take rooms on rent at Sannidanam or Pamba base camp," said Tomin J Thachankary, Managing Director of KSRTC .
The clock room facility will be available round the clock.
The corporation, though, will charge a fee from the devotees for usage of the facility.
"Nominal fee should be levied for keeping the belongings of pilgrims for a maximum 48 hours. Additional charges will be levied for usage of the facility beyond that period," the official said.
Only those pilgrims who travel in the KSRTC buses from Nilackal or other points can avail the facility.
Despite suffering losses in operation during the just concluded 'Thulamasa Pooja', the corporation will deploy "sufficient" buses during the upcoming pilgrimage season starting from November 17.
"We suffered a loss of Rs 1.21 lakh with respect to operation along. This is in addition to the damages suffered during attacks by protestors which come to nearly Rs 1.25 crore," an official said.
