TTD, which manages the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, announced two new key policies, introducing a new room allotment policy for common devotees and a radio collar system to track wild animals, ensuring a safer pilgrimage
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which oversees the management of the famous Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, has made two major announcements that pilgrims planning a visit must take note of.
The Tirupati temple, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is one of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in the world, attracting millions of devotees annually.
The TTD oversees the operations, administration, and services associated with the temple and its surrounding regions, its key responsibilities being security and safety, pilgrim services, temple revenue management and charitable works.
New Room Allotment Policy
The TTD has introduced a new room allotment policy to prioritise common devotees. To enhance facilities at the Tirupati temple, the board has implemented special conditions for room allocation based on recommendation letters, increasing the number of rooms available to general devotees.
Previously, celebrities and individuals in constitutional positions could secure rooms without darshan tickets through recommendation letters. This system has been discontinued. Under the new policy, only devotees with darshan tickets are eligible for room allotment.
The TTD allocates 7,500 rooms daily — 3,500 for general devotees through the Central Reservation Office (CRO); 1,580 for online bookings; and 400 for donors to various trusts. The remaining rooms are allocated to VIP and VVIP arrivals.
For room allotment through recommendation letters, devotees must present their Aadhaar card and darshan ticket at the Sri Padmavati Enquiry Office or other designated counters.
This change addresses the issue of brokers who previously hoarded rooms by using recommendation letters and then rented them out at exorbitant prices, leading to complaints of cheating. By linking room allocation to darshan tickets, TTD aims to eliminate this problem and ensure equitable room distribution for all devotees.
Enhanced Safety Measures For Tirumala Devotees
Tirumala, the revered abode of Sri Venkateswara, attracts millions of devotees daily, many of whom choose the Alipiri and Srivari Mettu walking paths for their pilgrimage. To safeguard these devotees, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has been implementing various safety protocols.
However, a significant concern has arisen with the increased presence of leopards along these paths. Recently, a tragic incident occurred on the Alipiri footpath, where a leopard attack resulted in the unfortunate demise of a child,. This incident follows a similar one just two months prior, involving a four-year-old boy. These incidents mark the first-ever fatal animal attacks in Tirumala’s history.
The leopard population has seen a marked increase following the Covid-19 lockdown, with these animals now more frequently traversing the Seshachalam forest areas, raising concerns among devotees.
To address this issue, TTD has formulated a comprehensive strategy to mitigate the risk of wild animal encounters for pilgrims. They propose implementing a radio collar system to track the movements of leopards, elephants, bears, and deer around Tirumala. This system will facilitate the creation of a real-time alert network, warning devotees and TTD staff of approaching wild animals.
This alert system, successfully deployed in other locations, has garnered praise from wildlife officials for its potential effectiveness in Tirumala. Once TTD receives the necessary approvals, the process will involve the safe capture and containment of the animals. A radio collar, equipped with a SIM card, will be fitted to each animal to monitor their movements.
A dedicated department in Tirumala will then track these animals via satellite signals, with GPS data triggering alerts whenever animals enter areas frequented by devotees.
This proactive measure aims to prevent future animal-related incidents, ensuring a safer and more tranquil experience for all pilgrims visiting Tirumala.