Andhra Pradesh - Tirumala   

TTD tackles accommodation woes of pilgrims

TIRUMALA: The reforms being introduced by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) management in its reception wing has not only ‘injected' a new life in the style of functioning of the department but has also minimised the difficulties of the devotees visiting the Tirumala temple in securing hassle-free accommodation.

Earlier, it was a Herculean task for any common devotee to secure minimum accommodation atop the hill town. Devotees with no other option were either left to the mercy of the VIPs to recommend for them accommodation or fall prey to the tactics of the ‘touts' who left them with burned pockets.

Things took a drastic turn, with the government deputing senior Group-I officers for all the vital posts in the administration on the request of the TTD. The occupancy rate which was between 75 per cent and 80 per cent last year went up to 99 per cent this year besides registering a staggering income of over Rs. 4.40 crore on an average every month compared to Rs. 3 crore a month last year.

Talking to The Hindu, Special grade Deputy Executive Officer B. Lakshmikantham attributed the steep increase in income to the introduction of biometric system, mandatory production of ID proof by pilgrims during the time of allotment, penalising parties staying beyond 48 hours at Tirumala without a valid reason etc. The immediate impact of reforms was felt on the middlemen who not only blocked cottages for long days during peak season and on festive occasions but also sold them to pilgrim parties at exorbitant rates. He said incidents wherein pilgrim parties overstaying beyond 48 hours had drastically come down to a meagre 1,500 on an average during a month this year when compared to 10,000 a month last year. The decision to discourage recommendation letters in the allotment of cottages and instead provide the same to the visiting pilgrims on first-come-first-serve basis also substantially contributed to the growth in the rental revenue.

Special drive

Further, the management also asked officials to visit allotment counters and conduct ‘surprise checks' to ensure proper functioning of the system vis-à-vis identifying the civil and electrical defects, replacements of furniture besides containing malpractices if any.

Modernisation

In addition to this, the TTD's Specified Authority (SA) also sanctioned Rs. 35 crore for modernisation of over 5,000 and odd cottages and guesthouses at Tirumala, which included furnishing of all the suites in all the three massive free choultries. As a special incentive to devotees, toilet kits will also be provided at all the TTD cottages with a tariff of Rs. 1,000 and above.

He said with a view to countering difficulties being experienced by devotees in course of securing back their caution deposits the management is contemplating setting up of special counters at all its reception sub-enquiry offices for the purpose.

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