Cashless transactions pick up at Tirumala

Tirupati: Cashless transactions are picking up in Tirumala, where more and more pilgrims are now preferring electronic payment for booking accommodation. TTD introduced electronic payment for the convenience of pilgrims in Tirupati and Tirumala for booking accommodation, purchase of gold dollars, etc.,

Swiping machines were installed at all places, including reception centres where rooms are allotted across the counter under current booking to the pilgrims in Tirumala. At a review meeting held by additional executive officer A V Dharma Reddy in Tirumala on Tuesday with TTD senior officials on promoting cashless transaction and also reintroducing collection of caution deposit from pilgrims for advance booking, it was found that there was considerable increase in cashless transactions made by pilgrims for booking accommodations on the hills.

MBC accommodation allotment counter topped with cent per cent cashless transaction followed by Sri Padmavathi Rest House which recorded 97 per cent. While in the general accommodation category, TB area recorded highest percentage of cashless transaction with 91 per cent, Saptagiri Rest House 62 per cent, SPT, Rambhageecha, and CRO General nearly 50 per cent.

The counters at SPT, Rambhageecha and CRO General cater to the accommodation needs of mostly common pilgrims where the cashless transaction is only 50 per cent. The addl.EO sought renewed efforts to see all the accommodation allotment counters achieve 00 percent cashless transaction with record to allotment of rooms to pilgrims.

There are about 6,500 rooms available with TTD in Tirumala in which half are being provided under current booking quota daily while 25 per cent rooms are allotted under advance reservation and 20 per cent also advance reservation to Rs 300 special entry ticket holders.

The accommodation facility in Padmavathi Guest House area is meant for VIPs is exempted from advance reservation and is allotted to important persons like ministers, celebrities, prominent persons etc.

Additional EO AV Dharma Reddy said the caution deposits have been reintroduced for on-line accommodation bookings from January 2020 quota which is already released. During the senior Officers meeting TTD additional EO also reviewed the progress of various developmental works in Tirumala and sought the concerned to strive for time bound completion of the works. Temple DyEO Harindranath, Estates Officer Vijayasaradhi and others were present.