The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Pilgrims pat TTD for facilities

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Monday, Apr 25, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Pilgrims pat TTD for facilities

Staff Reporter

Chairman, officials conduct surprise visit

TIRUMALA: The image of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) management received a morale boost with the pilgrim parties expressing satisfaction over the arrangements being made by the TTD for the benefit of the visiting devotees, on Sunday.

Annoyed at the allegations made by a section of the electronic media that the present TTD board was attaching more importance to the devotees from the affluent classes and neglecting the common pilgrims, the TTD Chairman, T. Subbirami Reddy, along with the TTD Executive Officer, A.P.V.N. Sarma, and the Special Officer, A. V. Dharma Reddy conducted surprise inspections at several cottage allotment counters and the massive Pilgrim Amenities Complexes (PAC).

During the hour-long inspection the Chairman interacted with several pilgrim parties who were either standing in the queue for want of accommodation or resting in the spacious halls, waiting for their turn, for darshan. Except for one or two pilgrims who complained against minor lapses, the rest appreciated the efforts of the management with regard to the arrangements. Even pilgrims coming from places like Chhattisgarh, who normally face a problem communicating with the locals, appreciated the arrangements. Later, talking to mediapersons, Mr. Subbirami Reddy said that catering to the needs of the poor and common pilgrims was top on the agenda of the present board.

Three Union Ministers offered prayers to Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala. They include -- the Minister for Civil Aviation, Prafulla Kumar Patel, the Minister of State for Railways, Narang Rathwa and the Minister of State for Health, Panabaka Lakshmi.

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