KOTTAYAM: Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan has said that KSRTC buses running chain service on the Nilakkal - Pampa route for Sabarimala pilgrims are more convenient than Navakerala bus. The Devaswom minister said that the problems at Sabarimala have been resolved and the number of devotees has been restricted as per the court order. The Minister was speaking while travelling with the pilgrims in a KSRTC bus.

"As part of the Navakerala Sadas, the journey is in KSRTC from November 18. If you compare that bus with the buses en route to Sabarimala, this one seems to be better. The media is spreading the word that the Navakerala bus is luxurious. But you can't stand inside that bus like this," Radhakrishnan said.

"Devotees including children mostly visit Sabarimala during holidays. A system will be set up keeping this in mind. The current system has been improved so that more people can scale the 'Pathinettam Padi'(sacred steps). A discussion has been held with Tantri and Melasanthi regarding this. There are problems when handicapped people scale the sacred steps and this has been resolved", he added.