Pampa helipad no priority this season

KOCHI: Independent aviation firm Chipsan Aviation which conducts services to its helipad at Perunad, 40 km off Sabarimala, for Ayyappa devotees coming mostly from other states, from Cochin international airport has long been demanding a helipad at Pampa to save time for the pilgrims.

However, the authorities are in no mood to accede to the demand.

Chairman of the Empowered Committee on Sabarimala projects and former Chief Secretary K Jayakumar said that it was not top priority for the committee, when it was pointed out that a Travancore Devaswom Board project for constructing a helipad at Nialkkal had been hanging fire since 2012, the year in which Chipsan started services to Perunad.

“Our priority is for parking grounds for vehicles coming by road at Nilakkal. We have made five huge parking grounds there and we are not immediately proposing a helipad there,” he told DC.

With just one month left for the next Sabarimala season to begin, Chipsan Aviation Director, Sunil Narayanan, said that a helipad near Pampa was an urgent need not only for pilgrims but in the event of a disaster management or evacuation or a medical emergency.

“At the time of the Pulmedu tragedy, it was with great difficulty that a helicopter could land there. Other states are way ahead of Kerala in providing these facilities.

If Sabari rail can be allowed, then why can’t a helicopter which does not cause much disturbance be allowed? Many more pilgrims can be drawn to the hill shrine if the travel by road for more than 35 km is avoided to save more time,” said Sunil.