Devotees visiting Tirumala during the ensuing summer season need not spend gruelling hours waiting in the darshan lines. The TTD is planning to provide them the darshan of the presiding deity — Lord Venkateswara — in just one hour after being let out of the cubicles of the Vaikuntham queue complex.
Speaking to media after a meeting with the senior officials on Tuesday, TTD Executive Officer D. Sambasiva Rao said the management had experimented with the system on a trial and error basis before arriving at a conclusion standardising one hour as the waiting time.
The temple staff found that about 4,500 pilgrims could be provided ‘darshan’ of the deity in one hour. “Now that we have a clear idea about the movement of pilgrims in the ‘darshan’ lines, the management has strictly decided to ensure that every devotee comes out of the main temple complex with the comfortable ‘darshan’ of the deity in a duration of 60 minutes after being let out of the queue compartments,” the TTD EO said.
Procedures simplified
The TTD has further simplified the procedures for the cottage donors. Henceforth no donor slips will be sent to the cottage donors. Donors can avail themselves of all their privileges online. Donors visiting the town in person can book their accommodation one day in advance. In case they wish to recommend their cottage to others they should comply with the formalities online at least four days in advance. They are relieved of the burden of producing ‘live’ certificates hereafter.