Donations to SRIVANI Trust picked up, says Addl EO

Tirumala: The donations to Sri Venkateswara Alayala Nirmana Trust (SRIVANI) have picked up after the TTD introduced VIP darshan facility to those who donate to SRIVANI Trust.

According to TTD Additional Executive Officer AV Dharma Reddy, as many as 89 pilgrims availed the newly introduced facility on Tuesday against just four on the day of launching the donation-linked-VIP break darshan facility last Monday.

At a three-hour long meeting with Heads of various departments held in Tirumala on Tuesday, Reddy exuded confidence that in the coming days the donations to SRIVANI Trust would gain momentum as VIP-break darshan facility was being provided to the pilgrims who donate to the trust.

The pilgrim donors of SRIVANI Trust were not only benefiting from getting the most sought after `Protocol VIP darshan' enabling them to get darshan of Moolavirat, at a close distance but also contributing their bit to the spread of Hindu Sanatana Dharma which is the chief motto behind the launch of the Trust, asserted In-charge EO AV Dharma Reddy.

It may be noted here that just four of a pilgrim family availed the darshan-linked donation facility on the day it was launched - on November 21 which went up to 52 on Saturday and to 89 on Tuesday.

Speaking to mediapersons after the official meeting, Reddy said that the TTD is considering linking of accommodation facility also to the donors of SRIVANI Trust upon their request. This facility will soon come into force as soon as the on-line application of SRIVANI Trust gets ready in November.

He said the three-hour long meet also reviewed the development works which are under progress. Reddy said that the GMR Group has come forward to take up the beautification of Tirumala by developing greenery on donation basis. "In the next four months, they have informed us to develop the medians at Tirumala and remaining works in a phased manner," he said.

Apart from this, the MAP Technologies of Bengaluru has taken up the prestigious revamping of Sri Venkateswara Museum at Tirumala and the 'Temple Experience' of the gallery in the underground is already under progress.

"The entire project may cost around Rs 30-40crore which will also be completed on a donation basis," he maintained. The Additional Executive Officer said that total plastic ban will be implemented at Tirumala from Sankranti festival onwards next year.

"I have already instructed the Health Officer to organise an awareness meeting with those operating eateries at Tirumala. Even the rest houses should be replaced with water dispensers soon. Wide publicity will be given on TTD satellite channel SVBC on the plastic ban for the information of pilgrim public," he maintained.

On cashless transactions, the In-charge EO said, MBC recorded cent percent, Padmavathi area 97% and the Sapthagiri area and CRO 81%. "We are requesting the pilgrims to encourage cashless transactions, as it will benefit them in getting refund of the caution deposit directly into their account," he said.