Limit on Slotted Sarva Darshan tokens till summer rush recedes

Tirumala: The TTD has no other go except to limit the daily issuance of Slotted Sarva Darshan (SSD) tokens  to ensure its smooth running for the convenience of the pilgrims, said TTD executive officer Anil Kumar Singhal.

Singhal said that keeping in view the huge number of pilgrims to Tirumala, the TTD has decided to restrict the quantum of tokens being issued daily under Time Slotted Sarva Darshan which would continue till June-end.

Addressing newspersons after the monthly Dial Your EO programme at the Annamaiah Bhavan here on Friday, the EO said TTD is issuing 30,000 SSD token daily on Saturday and Sunday, 20000 on Monday and Friday and 17,000 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays to pilgrims.

The huge rush that was witnessed recently resulted in the waiting time for darshan more than 30 hours leading to the  pilgrims who availed the SSD tokens preferring to sit in the compartments meant for general pilgrims (without SSD tokens) throwing the SSD system out of gear with large number of absentees.

This forced the TTD to withdraw the issuing of tokens in Tirumala which was resumed after revamping the issuance of SSD with limited numbers daily, he explained.

Income through hundi offerings also saw a big jump in May this year with collection touching Rs. 86.46 crore as against Rs.78.47 crore last year. The EO also gave the breakup of the number of pilgrims provided darshan under various types of facilities in vogue.

This include 5.36 lakh Divya Darshan tickets meant for pilgrims reaching Tirumala on foot through the two pedestrian paths, 5.56 lakh under SSD token system, 5.14 lakh  special entry ticket darshan (Rs 300 tickets), Sarva Darshan (without tokens) through waiting in compartments 5.15 lakhs.