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Road work on track at Sabarimala

Photo: Leju Kamal

Safety: Trees standing in the trench being uprooted for the construction of retaining walls along the Chandranandan Road in Sabarimala. –

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Forest Department has objected to felling of nearly 25 trees that stand inside the foundation trench of the proposed concrete retaining walls along the Chandranandan Road leading to the Sabarimala Sannidhanam from Marakkoottom. According to experts, leaving the growing trees inside the trench as such is sure to affect the strength of the walls.

The Travancore Devaswom Board has launched the work on the retaining walls a few weeks ago as part of the road widening work as per a design provided by the Delhi-based Ecosmart India Limited. The work, estimated at Rs.5,16,81,000, has been awarded to six contractors, dividing the 1,200-metre stretch of the Chandranandan Road into six reaches, so as to complete it before the forthcoming Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival beginning in mid-November. The project involves widening of the road from its existing width of 3.5 m to 7 m.

According to experts attached to the Devaswom Works Department, the concrete retaining walls have been scientifically designed and can even withstand landslips. They sought cooperation of the Forest Department for the implementation of the project in a time-bound manner. Galvanised iron pipes would be used for constructing permanent barricades along the road to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the Thiruvananthapuram-based Habitat, headed by architect Sankar, has completed the design of the proposed queue complex on the Saramkuthi-Sannidhanam trekking path. The queue complex comprises 50 self-contained compartments to regulate the flow of pilgrims at the holy hillock. TDB is planning to implement the project through sponsorship, sources said.

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