Close on the heels of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) vigilance wing busting a fake laddu token racket, leading to the arrest of three employees, the temple trust board has decided to provide issue tokens to the pilgrims, especially those reaching the shrine on foot, at Vaikuntam queue complex.
After his marathon inspections at the Vaikuntam Queue Complex here on Tuesday, TTD Executive Officer D. Sambasiva Rao said the initiative would save pilgrims from the ordeals of long waiting hours in queue lines for securing additional laddu tokens.
As part of its pro-pilgrim initiatives, the TTD is now providing those reaching the shrine on foot one laddu free of cost and two additional laddus at a subsidised cost of Rs. 10 each.
Those intend to have additional laddus are rather forced to spend long hours at the issuing counters outside the main temple complex. Now with the decision, devotees can get the required amount of laddus from the counters at the Vaikuntam complex at one go, Mr. Rao said.
Likewise, the facility will also be extended shortly to the devotees opting for booking Rs. 300 darshan tickets online.
They can avail two laddus at the click of the mouse, along with the darshan tickets. Plans are afoot to introduce the same to the pilgrims opting for dharma darshan queue lines.
Referring to measures in place to check fraudulent practice, the EO said that the TTD was determined to deal with such cases with an iron fist.
“A special software that can assess the exact number of pilgrims reaching the hill town every day has been procured. There will be a hawk-eye surveillance on the happenings hereafter, particularly on the subsidised schemes being extended to pilgrims,” Mr. Rao added.
The move will curtail long wait for securing additional laddu tokens: TTD EO
Devotees booking Rs. 300 darshan tickets online to get two laddus at the click of a mouse
