Ensure rituals, hassle-free darshan to pilgrims: TTD EO

Tirupati: The top most priorities of TTD is to ensure rituals as per Agamas and provide hassle-free darshan to pilgrims, said TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal. During his Independence Day address at the Parade Grounds of TTD Administrative Building in Tirupati on Wednesday, the EO recalled the great sacrifices made by the national leaders for the sake of free India.

The EO said the construction of two new temples at Kanyakaumari, Tamil Nadu (Rs 22.5 crore cost) and in Hyderabad (Rs 28 crore) is nearing completion and will be formally inaugurated by next year. He said 25 acres of land was allotted to TTD in state capital Amaravati for construction of Venkateswara Swamy temple. “The time slot darshan introduced by TTD has reduced the woes of long waiting hours of pilgrims in queue lines and compartments. Today, we are providing time slot darshan to nearly 60,000-70,000 pilgrims without any inconvenience,” he maintained.

He said improvement of facilities taken up at a cost of Rs 26 crore in the areas near the temple to cope with the heavy rush of devotees during major occasion like New Year Day, Rathasapathmi and Vaikunta Ekadasi and also modernising the queue lines at a cost of Rs 23 crore for the convenience of pilgrims waiting for darshan.