Sabarimala may get AI-based pilgrim management system this season

Kochi,UPDATED: Jun 20, 2026 23:52 IST

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.

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.

According to Abraham, the system could reduce dependence on large-scale police deployment during the annual pilgrimage season and help maintain continuity in crowd-management practices even when personnel change from one season to another.

Anand said facial-recognition technology was also being considered to help trace missing pilgrims and improve security.

"With AI-enabled facial-recognition cameras, photographs of missing persons can be uploaded and matched across the camera network to help locate them within minutes," he said.

He added that the technology could be especially useful in tracing missing children and elderly pilgrims during the peak season, and could also identify people flagged in authorised databases and alert authorities where needed.

Jayakumar said the technology plan was linked to the broader Vision Sabarimala project, which also focuses on sanitation and waste management.

"This is not an isolated project. It is part of the larger Vision Sabarimala plan. Our goal is a clean and green Sabarimala with better sanitation, scientific waste management and active participation from all stakeholders," he said.

He said new sanitation and waste-management protocols were being prepared with the Suchitwa Mission. "Shops, hotels and other establishments are among the major generators of waste. Their agreements and tender conditions will include clear responsibilities relating to waste management and sanitation," he said.

He said the authorities were working towards a "Clean Sabarimala, Green Sabarimala" model with better sanitation, scientific waste disposal and lower plastic use. Stressing the need for behavioural change among pilgrims, Jayakumar said awareness campaigns would be stepped up in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, from where most pilgrims travel.

"Nearly 75 per cent of pilgrims come from these states. Any meaningful change will require awareness campaigns in those states as well," he said.

He added that information on pilgrimage guidelines, environmental responsibilities and dos and don’ts at Sabarimala would be shared through publications, social media and other outreach efforts in multiple languages.

"The goal is to make Sabarimala safer, cleaner and more pilgrim-friendly through the use of technology, better planning and the participation of all stakeholders," he said.

The proposed AI system, along with the sanitation and awareness measures under Vision Sabarimala, is intended to improve safety, crowd management and cleanliness at the shrine, with the board hoping to complete preliminary steps by August and introduce at least some of the key features in the coming pilgrimage season.

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