TIRUPATI: After evaluating many options to facilitate early darshan in the day for the common devotees, who will be waiting overnight for hours together in compartments and queue lines, the trust board of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) seems to have at last stumbled upon an appropriate option – ‘Changing VIP Break Darshan timing’.
The TTD trust board, led by its chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy, had on Saturday taken a decision to make changes in the darshan timings for VIPs to facilitate early darshan to common pilgrims. The move is, however, expected to be implemented after Purattasi month (second-half of October) in a phased manner on a trial-basis.
Speaking to reporters after the trust board meeting, the TTD chairman said the board has decided to provide a solution to the issue keeping in view the inconvenience being caused to devotees waiting overnight in the compartments and the outside queue lines by changing the timings of VIP Break Darshan slot at the Tirumala temple from 5am-7am to 10am-12pm.
“It has been in vogue at the Tirumala temple that VIPs are provided the first darshan in the day and the common devotees are allowed for darshan only after them. As early morning darshan slots were completely dedicated to VIPs and Seva ticket holders, commoners were forced to wait for hours to have darshan. Keeping this in view, the board has decided to change the VIP Break Darshan slot. This will be implemented on a trial basis after the annual brahmotsavams", the TTD chairman said.
Meanwhile, the TTD chairman said the trust board has also taken some decisions keeping in view the increased pilgrim influx to Tirumala post pandemic and also the limitations in the accommodation here. With respect to Slotted Sarva Darshanam (SSD) tokens, the TTD chairman said the board has decided to reintroduce the issuance of SSD tokens with a limited number after the Purattasi month, while Sarva Darshan (free darshan without tokens) will be operated simultaneously.
He further stated that the available accommodation in Tirumala town will suffice the needs of only a limited number of pilgrims, and to avoid the accommodation woes, the board has decided to shift the accommodation allotment system to Tirupati. “If the accommodation allotment gets exhausted in Tirumala, we request the pilgrims to book accommodation in Tirupati instead of waiting for long hours in the hill town", he added.
