Pathanamthitta: The helipads constructed behind the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Pathanamthitta for President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Sabarimala have been demolished. Three helipads and an approach road built to facilitate the President's helicopter landing had cost ₹20.7 lakh. The expenditure details, which came to light through a Right to Information (RTI) query, had attracted widespread public attention and sparked controversy.

Officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) said the demolition was carried out following a request from the Pramadam panchayat, which pointed out that the helipads were obstructing the conduct of sports events and festivals at the stadium ground.

President Murmu landed at Pramadam on October 22 aboard an Indian Air Force helicopter. Owing to an orange alert for rain, the landing site was shifted from Nilakkal to Pramadam. The concrete work for the helipads, which began hurriedly around midnight, was completed in the early morning hours, barely three hours before the President's arrival.

During the landing, the helicopter's wheel pressed against the helipad's concrete surface, causing damages. After the President proceeded to Pampa, police and fire department officials moved the helicopter away from the affected area. Images and videos of the incident too had circulated widely.