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Pilgrims face hardships at Tirumala
On the basis of High Court orders recently, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams officials imposed huge penalties on several hotels which have not been maintaining the rules in food sales.
Tirupati: On the basis of High Court orders recently, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams officials imposed huge penalties on several hotels which have not been maintaining the rules in food sales.
Hotels are not ready to pay the huge fine amounts which were imposed by the TTD Estate officials last one week. In this context, officials have seized 10 hotels on the hill shrine on Sunday. The seizure of hotels is leading to other complications.
Most of the hotels which were seized by the officials are located on DMB Road, Annamaiah Bhavan, and nearer to Tirumala Ring Road. Before their closure, these hotels have been selling food to pilgrims in large scale with different prices.
With the shout down of hotels in these areas, pilgrims are facing inconveniences. Due to the closure of hotels, pilgrims, from rest houses and cottages, have to rush for more than one km for eating food.
In the meanwhile, other than Tharigonda Vengamamba dining hall, TTD Annadanam Trust is distributing free food at limited places like Ram Bagicha Bus Stand, CRO office, Pilgrim Amenities Complex-2. Currently there is demand from pilgrims for free distribution of food by TTD in the areas where the hotels were shut down in the hill shrine.
In this situation, coming one-and-half month will be very tough time for TTD officials in free food distribution. Heavy rush of pilgrims (two to three lakhs per day) is expected from December 25, 2017 to Jan 1, 2018 at Tirumala for Srivari darshan on the occasion of new year. The devotees rush will increase during the Sankranti festival days.
So, the TTD should take alternative steps to meet the pilgrim food needs. But the officials are not thinking in this regard. One of the Annadanam senior official said, `currently we have no idea to distribute free food in entire Tirumala. And we have not received any specific proposal from EOs or JEOs office Tirumala.
“Hence if pilgrims want to have food they should come to TTD free food distribution centers like Rmabagicha and CRO office areas. Otherwise, they have to come Tharigonda Vengamambba Nithay Annadana Sathram”, the official added.
By K Nethaji
