TIRUPATI: The TTD proposes to put in place a full-fledged crowd management module to cope with the increasing pilgrim inflow into the temple of Lord Venkateswara.

"In view of the perceptible increase in pilgrims, 25% more than last year's level, we are now focusing our attention on ensuring a hassle-free and pleasant darshan to the visiting pilgrims through the module making optimum use the online system," said A.P.V.N. Sarma, Executive Officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams in an informal chat with mediapersons on the eve of his completion of one year in office.

Focus on accommodation

He said the proposed module would basically concentrate on meeting the vital basic of the visiting pilgrims, vis a vis their accommodation at Tirumala/Tirupati, sale of seva tickets, ensuring darshan with a minimum waiting time and sale of laddus besides ensuring reasonably hygienic food.

He said the TTD, was, of late, faced with the uphill task of handling a crowd of 2 crore pilgrims per annum on an average.

On the controversy over the proposed ropeway between Tirupati and Tirumala on the ground that it violated scriptural sanctions, he said there should be no ground for any apprehensions on the project as barring the ropeway all other controversial components of the project like the development of a visitors zone, Imax theatre, food-court, shopping malls, etc had been dropped in view of the public and the media criticism that they violated the Agama Sastras.

Tracing some of the major developmental works taken up by the TTD in the last one year, he removal of encroachments and widening of the mada streets to decongest the temple environs, introduction of on-line ticketing system in 29 centres in the State to book seva tickets.

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