TTD puts in place elaborate measures on temple premises

Tirumala: Extensive arrangements are being made by the TTD as a precautionary measure to check coronavirus disease at Tirumala, keeping in view the huge number of pilgrims arriving daily for darshan of Lord Venkateswara.

A major step taken up by the TTD is to dispense with the allowing of pilgrims in the massive queue complex to avoid congregation of people as part of the preventive measures.

From zero hours on Tuesday (March 17), the TTD has commenced the issuing of time slot tokens for direct Srivari darshan without any waiting period at the Vaikuntham queue complex. To facilitate the new system that eliminated waiting of pilgrims till their turn of darshan (general), the TTD has set up various counters at Tirumala and Tirupati to issue tokens.

This saw the gathering of pilgrims on the hills coming down drastically resulting in the usually crowded places looking deserted at Tirumala.

In addition to discontinuing allowing pilgrims in queue complex, the TTD also regulated the number of pilgrims in the dining halls of the massive Annaprasadam Complex where only 500 are now allowed in each hall as against normal seating capacity of 1000, that is at the rate of two pilgrims per table instead of four, to avoid close contact of people.

The staff and sevaks wear masks and ensure that their hands are sanitised at regular intervals while serving Annaprasadam to pilgrims.

Additional arrangements were made in all Kalyanakattas (tonsure centres) at Tirumala to make tonsuring without any waiting which in turn saw no gathering of people at the tonsure centres. All barbers are wearing masks and use Dettol solutions and the tonsuring halls are being cleaned up every 2 hours.

All rest houses, cottages, PACs and guesthouses have been cleaned up utilising services of additional cleaning staff and pilgrims were allowed into rooms one hour after cleaning.

All the thickly-populated junctions have been cleaned with disinfectants against infectious diseases and sanitisers and awareness camps were organised for all TTD employees and senior officials. All staff posted at Tirumala have been provided masks and sanitisers.

A control room was also set up at Tirumala health office and devotees could contact 0877-2263447 for emergencies and coronavirus awareness information.

The series of anti-corona measures include increased sanitary measures at Alipiri checkpoint. All vehicles passing through the checkpoint are sprayed with anti-infectious disinfectants.

Emergency medical camps were set up at Alipiri Padala Mandapam and Srivari Mettu walker's path with thermal screening facility.

The TTD has offered to all Rs 300 darshan online advance ticket holders an option to postpone to future dates or else refund if they cancel visits.

In order to completely avoid waiting period anywhere, the TTD has cancelled Arjita Sevas like Vishesha Puja, Sahasra Kalasabhisekam and Vasantotsavams.

As part of its extensive publicity, the TTD is making non-stop announcements and telecast on coronavirus awareness measures on SVBC channel and radio and broadcasting services.

Pilgrim rush reduces by about 25 %

Tirumala: The pilgrim rush is gradually declining at Tirumala in view of apprehensions over coronavirus.

On an average about 70,000 visit the famed Tirumala shrine which would go up on weekend holidays to about 85,000-90,000.

But, on last Saturday 79,000 pilgrims visited the hill shrine and the number of devotees dropped to 64,000 on Sunday and 55,600 on Monday indicating 20-25 per cent slump in pilgrim rush to Tirumala.

With the coronavirus threat looming large all over the globe, the pilgrim rush is expected to come down further in the coming days which is bound to hit various sectors particularly hospitality, private transport and also small traders depending heavily on pilgrim flow.