TTD restricts VIP darshan

Tirumala: The TTD had resolved to restrict the VIP darshan only to protocol VIPs during the weekends for the next 15 weeks starting from this weekend onwards.

This was to cope with the summer rush expected to increase due to holidays to schools and college. Speaking to the media here on Tuesday after a meeting with senior officers of TTD on the additional arrangements to be made to tackle the summer rush, TTD joint executive officer (Tirumala) K S Sreenivasa Raju said that from April 21 till second weekend of July, no VIP recommendation letters will be entertained and the VIP devotees are requested to cooperate with this decision in the larger interests of common pilgrims during summer vacation.

Sreenivasa Raju said that senior officers of the TTD would be deployed to monitor pilgrim line movement and provide them hassle-free darshan for 90 days till summer vacation is completed.

The average pilgrim flow which will be around 70,000 increases to about one lakh on weekdays and even more on weekends during the summer months due to holidays for schools and colleges.

He directed the Annaprasadam and health wings to make additional arrangements of food and water keeping in view the summer vacation rush. He also instructed Chief Medical Officer Dr Nageswara Rao to keep ready ORS sachets and other medical facilities for the pilgrims in view of the summer heat.

Superintendent Engineers Ramachandra Reddy, Venkateswarulu, Temple Dy EO Harindranath, General Manger (Transport) Sesha Reddy, Vigilance and Security Officer Ravindra Reddy, Annaprasadam Special Officer S Venugopal and others were also present.