It’s challenges galore for new TTD EO

Dr. D. Sambasiva Rao takes charge as the Executive Officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). The management is also burdened with the long-time ‘squatters’ who refuse to move out from their positions.

New TTD EO D. Sambasiva Rao offering prayers at the Dhwajasthambham inside the Tirumala temple on Wednesday. Photo: By Arrangement

It doesn’t look all rosy for Dondapati Sambasiva Rao who on Wednesday assumed charge as the new Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) which rather remains pestered with several pilgrim related problems.

Even though successive administrative heads have contributed their bit to address the difficulties of the devotees, the travails continue to persist allegedly due to lack of proper conceptualisation in hammering out a permanent solution. Ordinary devotees are rather subjected to gruelling waiting hours in the darshan lines as well as in the compartments.

The access entry card system which enables a devotee to go out and report back at Vaikuntam queue complex at appropriate time (thus avoiding gruelling waiting hours) still lacks proper publicity. The anomalies in online issuing of Rs.300 darshan tickets have rather proved a bane for pilgrims. Devotees on unplanned trip to the temple town after incurring huge expenses en route are deprived of darshan even on normal days, in addition to the speculations of loss of revenue by the TTD.

Middlemen, who run a parallel establishment atop Tirumala hills, both in darshan and accommodation in alleged connivance with TTD staff needs to be tamed. Further, private care-takers at various guest houses go unchallenged, providing a platform for middlemen, besides threatening the security of the religious institution that is already on the radar of militants.

The management is also burdened with the long-time ‘squatters’ who refuse to move out from their positions. The previous administrations had a little success in relocating them as they bounced back to their earlier positions in no time.

Oathtaking

Dr. D. Sambasiva Rao on Wednesday took charge as the Executive Officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). At a brief function organised inside the sanctum sanctorum of the hill shrine, he was administered the oath by the TTD’s JEO K.S. Srinivasa raju. Speaking to media later, Dr. Rao urged the employees to rededicate themselves in the service of the visiting devotees. No stone should be left unturned to make Tirumala into a smart religious city, he said.