Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal on Friday underscored the need to further streamline the queue system at the Lord Venkateswara temple, one of the world’s most visited holy sites.
While the TTD has achieved significant progress in the management of queues, many devotees still face a hard time after being let out of the massive Vaikuntam complex. Pilgrims spend long hours during their way to the temple as they get stuck in the middle of the darshan lines, particularly during festive occasions.
Regulated flow
As an immediate measure, the management has decided to take up an awareness campaign among devotees urging them to reach the Vaikuntam complex only at the time as specified on their darshan tokens and to let out only a calculated number of pilgrims (from Vaikuntam) into the darshan lines in direct proportion to those emerging out of the temple.
The management has also decided to put in place a ‘lucky dip’ system to allocate duties of Srivari Sevaks inside the sanctum sanctorum to avoid criticism.
New temples
The Lord Venkateswara temple in Kanyakumari will be formally opened for the public on January 27 after observing a five-day ‘Maha Samprokshanam’ while the one in Hyderabad will be inaugurated on March 13.
The TTD, as per the directions of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, has taken up the implementation of an ambitious master plan at Ontimitta temple in Kadapa at a cost of ₹100 crore and has also accorded financial sanction for the works to the tune of ₹60 crore.
Mr. Singhal said the recent orders passed by the High Court with regard to the retirement of the mirasi archakas will be discussed by the board of trustees at their ensuing meeting before taking any final call in the matter.
Security concerns
When asked for his reaction over the recent kidnap of a sixteen-month-old boy in Tirupati, Mr. Singhal said the TTD has installed about 280 high-resolution cameras inside the temple as well as in the mada streets and added that a decision regarding the purchase of another 1,100 cameras will be taken by the TTD board at its next meeting.
Underlining the need for better coordination between TTD vigilance and local police, Mr. Singhal said the management is ready to meet any requirements of the latter in the interest of devotees. “The security of pilgrims is of paramount concern to the TTD,” Mr. Singhal said.
