Multi-Crore facelift for Tirupati

TIRUMALA: The Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the trust which manages India's largest congregation of devotees in Tirupati, has drawn up a massive plan that envisages better facilities for pilgrims, and aims at making provisions for people from across the globe to participate in online donations and seva bookings.

Detailing the initiatives planned, TTD chairman T Subbirami Reddy told reporters that the Vaikuntam complex, which houses pilgrims waiting for free darshan would be made air-conditioned at a cost of Rs 3.45 crore.

The sheds would be provided with plasma televisions and water coolers.

The free choultries would be renovated at a cost of Rs 5.5 crore, while paid guest houses would get a facelift, with a budget of Rs 2.5 crore.

The entire exercise would see accommodation being made available to an additional 15,000 people, besides the existing facilities for 35,000 people.

The project would be ready in a year. The physically challenged and senior citizens would have a 'direct darshan' .

"The rude behaviour of the staff inside the temple will be avoided. We will set up 20 complaint booths across Tirumala where a competent person will be seated to address pilgrims’ problems," Reddy added.

"If we are unable to garner donations, we will use our money to get the facilities ready," he said. Steps would also be taken to ease donations from across the globe. Problem related to the existing payment gateway with Citibank would be sorted out shortly.

Meanwhile, IDBI Bank has been allowed to operate another payment gateway.

TCS has been entrusted with the task of making the entire temple e-ready. "Once this happens, devotees can make online hundi offerings, besides booking for accommodation and sevas . This will help devotees coming from far-flung places," he said. A spiritual park is being planned at the foothills in Alipiri. "Mahindra & Mahindra has already donated Rs 4.5 crore for this project," Reddy said.

'Laddu' for big cities

Tirumala : The famous laddu from Tirumala will soon be available in select cities across India. The prasadam would be smaller in size but would taste the same. TTD said around 5,000 laddus are already available in Chennai, where they have received a tremendous response.

Courtesy: The Times of India