The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) convened a special board meeting at its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday and, following the session, held a press conference. Board President K. Jayakumar announced that every monetary transaction within the Sabarimala pilgrimage complex—including room reservations, offerings and donations—will be shifted to a fully digital platform. The move aims to enhance transparency and streamline the pilgrim experience.

Digital Booking and Expanded Accommodation

Presently, only 190 out of 690 guest‑house rooms can be booked online. Under the new scheme, 550 rooms will be opened for digital reservation, dramatically increasing capacity for devotees. To address past complaints about delayed deposit refunds, the board will discontinue deposit collection; pilgrims will pay only the room rent in advance, plus a non‑refundable service charge of ₹50 per room.

Infrastructure Upgrades and Safety Measures

Housekeeping services for the guest houses will be outsourced, with expressions of interest to be invited from qualified firms. Additionally, a new 60‑room guest house is slated for construction near the existing Sabari guest house, subject to clearance from the High Court and the Sabarimala High Power Committee. The construction will be entrusted to agencies accredited by the government.

The police department’s proposal for an AI‑enabled crowd‑management system has received preliminary approval, with an estimated cost of ₹17 crore. Funding will be sought through corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions. A technical quality audit team—comprising a retired Chief Engineer and two retired Superintending Engineers (Civil and Electrical)—will oversee construction quality.

Sanitation Protocols and Social Outreach

In partnership with Clean Kerala Company, a systematic waste‑disposal protocol will be implemented across Sabarimala and the Pampa River. All offerings will be distributed solely from a central store, and the daily issuance of ‘padi puja’ receipts will increase from one to five, after consulting the temple Tantri. The board will also disburse ₹1 lakh each to the families of 54 individuals who suffered fatal heart attacks while climbing the Sannidhaam last year, using the Pilgrim Relief Fund.

Finally, the board pledged to settle the bill for any renovation work within a month of completion, reinforcing its commitment to financial accountability.