Sabarimala may get AI-based pilgrim management system this season
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is considering introducing an AI-based pilgrim management system at the Sabarimala temple from the coming pilgrimage season, its president K
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is considering introducing an AI-based pilgrim management system at the Sabarimala temple from the coming pilgrimage season, its president K Jayakumar said on Saturday. The proposal is aimed at improving crowd management and safety at the Lord Ayyappa temple, with the board planning to bring in at least some of the critical parts of the system during this season. Read Full Story Speaking after a meeting with experts from different parts of the country, Jayakumar said the AI initiative was part of the larger Vision Sabarimala project, which has already been placed before and accepted by the Kerala High Court. Senior police officers, including ADGP Manoj Abraham and Pathanamthitta District Police Chief R Anand, also attended the discussions on the proposed system. Jayakumar said more consultations would be held with the police before the project requirements are finalised and a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Expression of Interest (EoI) is issued. "There are several stages involved. We have to invite proposals, assess the technical and financial capabilities of applicants through an expert committee and then award the work," he said. He added that the authorities were aiming to complete the preliminary procedures by August.
"We intend to move towards AI-enabled pilgrim management during this season itself," he said. Explaining the proposal, Abraham said the platform would combine high-resolution cameras, infrared sensors, drones, GPS mapping and predictive analytics to track pilgrim movement and identify possible congestion before it develops. He said the system would study data from surveillance systems along the Sabarimala pilgrimage route and flag places where crowding was likely. "The objective is to predict crowd build-up before it becomes critical and provide real-time guidance on measures required to regulate pilgrim flow and ensure safety," Abraham said. He said the entire pilgrimage network could be digitally mapped and linked to live camera feeds and sensor data to give officials a real-time picture of movement on the route, allowing preventive action before bottlenecks emerge. "The AI system will be capable of generating operational recommendations and communicating them to officials in real time, including during situations such as heavy rain, lightning or sudden crowd surges," he said. He added that the platform could also give pilgrims real-time updates on crowd levels, waiting times and route conditions. "Just as navigation applications guide motorists, pilgrims should be able to receive timely information on crowd conditions and expected waiting times at various locations," he said.
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