The TTD management is gearing up to meet the requirements of devotees during the summer vacation when the influx of the visiting pilgrims is expected to be at its peak. Speaking to The Hindu , TTD Executive Officer D. Sambasiva Rao said more focus would be on the ordinary devotees who form the major chunk of the summer crowd. Towards this end, the management has resolved to recast all the three existing Pilgrim Amenities Complexes (PAC) which could accommodate over 10,000 pilgrims at any point of time.
These complexes are equipped with over 4,000 lockers which if properly utilised would help the management tide over the summer crowd. Procedures have been simplified and strict instructions had been given to the authorities concerned for the upkeep of the environs besides ensuring a hassle-free stay for the devout. Even though the management to a large extent has been successful in addressing the perennial issues in the darshan of the deity, it shifted its focus in addressing the administrative deficiencies vis-a-vis crowd management, streamlining the darshan lines etc., which if properly plugged would enable it allocate more darshan hours to ordinary pilgrims. Similarly the Kalyanakatta complex – where about 20,000 pilgrims get their heads tonsured every day – is another grey area which demands more attention. For the benefit of women and children, the management is exploring various possibilities to reduce their waiting hours besides mulling the 'Moodu Katteralu' which is on the rise. Even though the services of the Kalyanakatta sevakulu (volunteers) are being utilised for the time being, Dr. Rao underlined the need for hammering out an enduring solution to the nagging issue.
Pilgrims visiting the temple during summer should have an altogether different experience as the TTD has one thing to assure them this year – ‘A hassle-free darshan and comfort stay’, he said.
