The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Pilgrim rush spells trouble for TTD

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Sunday, May 15, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Pilgrim rush spells trouble for TTD

Staff Reporter

Authorities forced to resort to `Maha laghu darshanam'

TIRUMALA: Unprecedented crowds have been thronging the temple town of Lord Venkateswara, Tirumala, for the past two weeks.

The TTD administration finds itself in a difficult position with the turnout of pilgrims touching its zenith. The arrangements made to meet the needs of the pilgrim crowd during summer have been thrown out of gear. Thought the temple administration is averse to slapping `Maha laghu darsanam' system (where in the pilgrims are allowed to have the darshan of the presiding deity from the dwarapalaka's point) on the pilgrims, it was rather compelled to resort to it on Thursday and Friday nights to clear the rush.

Long queues

According to the temple administration, the waiting time for the pilgrims in the dharma darsanam is put at a staggering 75 hours, whereas the waiting time for the pilgrims opting Rs. 50 sudarsan tokens is put around 52 hours.

Heated arguments with the TTD staff at various cottage allotment counters had become a common phenomenon during the past couple of days. Serpentine queues were witnessed at the massive Vaikuntam queue complexes, Vijaya Bank, Kalyanakatta and the free meals complex. The TTD has dispensed with the VIP break darshan for three days till Monday and has slapped restrictions in the issuance of the cellar tickets.

The traffic police had a tough time regulating the vehicular traffic. All parking slots were filled up and vehicles were seen parked on either sides of the road. Potu workers had to do over-time to ensure that there is no shortage of the laddus.

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