TTD online room booking quota to rise to 2,000

Tirumala: TTD EO Dr D Sambasiva Rao said on Tuesday that soon online room booking quota will be hiked to 2,000 against the existing 1,500 now.

This was to ensure more transparency in the allotment of accommodation in Tirumala and also help more and more pilgrims avail the facility of advance booking of accommodation (rooms) at a click of a mouse from their places.

Speaking to reporters after the review meeting held at the Annamayya Bhavan, here on Tuesday, TTD EO said the officials were directed to provide additional PoS machines wherever it was possible to promote cashless transactions by pilgrims.

The bankers also should ensure that adequate change and small notes were available for the benefit of devotees at Tirumala.

He said there will be no service charge for devotees who contribute online to the e-hundi and that the TTD will bear the transaction cost of all donors who contribute to all trusts and schemes of TTD.

The TTD has plans to expand the cashless services to devotees in a big way, he said. The donor management application will henceforth provide e-passbook and TDS certificates for them within two days.

All the details of donors coming through Supatham will be updated in the e-passbooks etc. Flexes and literature about TTD trusts and schemes will be displayed at the donors’ wing office, he said.

Sambasiva Rao also directed officials to ensure provision of hot water facilities everywhere in Tirumala and Tirupati establishments in view of the winter season.

He wanted officials to take corrective measures in parking lots and drinking water plants. He also asked the officials to further expand the hanging virtual gardens in Tirumala and increase monitoring of facilities and infrastructure at Srivari Mettu and Alipiri walkers path.

Officials who attended the meeting included Chief Engineer Chandrasekhar Reddy, VSO Raveendra Reddy, Vimala Kumari, GM Sesha Reddy, CMO Vikas, DyEOs Kodanda Rama Rao, Haridranath and others.