SABARIMALA, Dec 4: In an attempt to ease the frequent traffic snarls between Pampa and Plappally, the Assembly Estimates Committee would recommend to the government to develop a new route from Thulapally to Pampa, said panel chairman P Raju and member G Sudhakaran. They told mediapersons at Pampa the other day that the number of pilgrims reaching Sabarimala was multiplying each year. In this context, an alternate route to Pampa is the only solution to ease the mounting traffic congestion here.

Raju felt that basic facilities should not be denied to the pilgrims in the name of protecting forests. The committee would also recommend conversion of leased government land in the Laha-Chalakkayam route into parking space during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season. The committee felt that paucity of funds is causing undue delay in the maintenance of Sabarimala roads. It suggested inclusion of maintenance of Sabarimala roads under a new head of account.

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