The TTD will experiment with the “time slot” system for the dharma darshan of Lord Venkateswara in the second week of December. The idea is to provide a hassle-free darshan to ordinary pilgrims and relieve them from the ordeal of spending long hours in the darshan lines.
The trial-run of the new system is likely to be conducted for three days from December 10. About 22,000 to 38,000 tokens will be issued to the pilgrims every day. More than 150 counters are being exclusively set up at 21 identified places atop the temple town for the issuance of the darshan tokens.
Production of Aadhaar card is mandatory for the tokens, in order to prevent the darshan tokens from falling into the wrong hands. Devotees who have once availed themselves of the tokens cannot get it for the second time in the next 48 hours. The system will be implemented on a full fledged basis from February.
However, pilgrims without tokens can also have darshan of the deity as in the past vis-a-vis by waiting in the queue compartments.
TTD JEO KS Srinivasa Raju said the new system was the idea of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Pilgrims can also visit other places of importance atop the sacred town and report at the stipulated time for darshan.