Even though the Sabarimala service has significantly increased revenue for the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), employees are said to be experiencing delays in receiving their salaries.
In November, KSRTC generated Rs 308 crores, with Rs 6 crores from the Pampa service and Rs 210 crores from ticket sales. Yet, the first part of the salaries hasn’t been distributed by KSRTC to its staff. The organisation requires Rs 75.25 crore to fulfil employee payments.
At present, Ayyappa devotees making their way to Sabarimala are encountering a series of challenges, primarily related to the insufficient availability of bus services from Nilakkal to Pampa. The devotees find themselves in a rush, attempting to secure spots on the limited number of buses plying the route, leading to situations where individuals, particularly the elderly and children, are fainting due to the overcrowded conditions inside the buses that play between Nilakkal and Pampa.
The current situation is mainly due to the mismanagement on the part of the government and authorities, including KSRTC. Despite measures taken to alleviate crowding at the Sannidhanam or main shrine by restricting the number of devotees arriving from Pampa, the pilgrimage is becoming more demanding due to prolonged waits of up to four hours at Pampa. The challenges faced by the devotees underscores the need for improved coordination and management of transportation services to ensure a smoother and safer pilgrimage experience.