The Hindu : TTD to do away with 'break darshan'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 18, 2004

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TTD to do away with 'break darshan'

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUMALA. JAN. 17. VIP darshan in the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara, called "break darshan", will be done away with from February 1.

The decision was taken by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanoms Trust Board at a meeting held here today. D.K. Audikesavulu, chairperson, presided.

Briefing mediapersons, the TTD's executive officer, Ajeya Kallam, said the decision became inevitable for two reasons — increasing influx of VVIPs and the consequent shrinkage in the darshan time allotted to ordinary pilgrims. The board, however, decided to continue the facility in respect of the "protocol category" covering the Supreme Court and the High Court judges and those holding constitutional offices such as the President, the Vice-President, Governors, heads of constitutional bodies, and Chief Ministers.

The board is keen on providing more time for the ordinary pilgrims to have darshan, Mr. Kallam said adding that an officer in the cadre of assistant executive officer would be posted to take care of the protocol category as any faux paus in this regard would cause serious embarrassment to the Government and problems to the TTD management.

In another significant decision towards curtailing the VIP darshan, the board decided to hike the price of tickets for the most sought-after "Archana Anantara Darshan", popularly known in VIP circles as "AAD".

The cost of the ticket now pegged at Rs.100 would be increased by 100 per cent. This was intended to discourage the demand for the ticket. But given the low cost of the ticket even after its enhancement, it would have little impact unless a cap is put on the number of tickets to be issued for the slot.

On the confusion prevailing over the `Sudarshanam' token system vis-à-vis darshan in the hill temple, Mr. Kallam said that the system would be edged out once the on-line ticketing system for different sevas in the temple became fully operational and introduced by middle of the year through out the State and in all the major cities of the country.

The board also decided to construct an auditorium at a cost of Rs. 3 crores in the TTD's New Delhi-based Sri Venkateswara College.

While the local trust managing the college will provide Rs. 8.5 lakhs, the University Grants Commission will contribute an equal amount. The rest will be met by the TTD.

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