Devotees Suffer as Srisailam Facing Network Snags

Kurnool: Devotees visiting the historic Srisailam temple are facing a major inconvenience due to the snags in the digital payment system in the town, forcing them to carry large amounts of cash for even their basic needs.

Poor network connectivity in the temple town has crippled digital transactions, affecting everything from temple services to accommodation, food, fuel and shopping.

Srisailam, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga Kshetras and a revered Ashtadasha Peetham, witnesses heavy footfall throughout the year—especially during weekends, the Karthika month and major festivals like Ugadi. These festivals draw lakhs of pilgrims from across states.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited the temple, calling it one of the most significant Jyotirlinga shrines.

Despite its religious prominence and growing tourism potential, the town continues to struggle with outdated communication infrastructure. Locals say the communications system, introduced years ago when the region was considered sensitive due to Maoist activity, has not been upgraded. Both residents and pilgrims endure daily connectivity disruptions.

Only a few service points have digital payment access, but these too often fail due to weak signals. Internet access for laptops and other devices is mostly impossible, leaving both tourists and business operators frustrated.

Devotees purchasing darshan tickets at Srisailam must pay in cash of `150, `300, `500 and so with the Sparsha Darshanam tickets. While online booking works for those accessing the system from outside, on-site transactions remain cash-dependent.

Over 50 community choultries also accept cash only for accommodation and related services.

Shops, hotels, petrol pumps and other commercial establishments accept digital payments, in principle, but most decline them in practice, citing poor connectivity. Even the toll gate personnel prefer cash from thousands of daily commuters.

There are those who suspect the network system is kept mostly inactive with ulterior motives to scuttle the norms of transparency in the cash transactions.

A petrol pump run by the Devasthanam itself insists on cash payments. Some frustrated devotees staged a protest at an ATM in the temple town, demanding action from the authorities.

Cloth trader and BJP leader Somisetty Mallikarjuna said accepting digital payments often led to delays and payment failures, causing problems for both traders and customers. Therefore, many prefer cash transactions to avoid hassles.

Temple town residents say successive governments have failed to improve the digital infrastructure despite the temple’s national significance and the rising pilgrim numbers. With Srisailam and the surrounding Nallamala forest evolving into a major tourism hub, locals and devotees say digital connectivity is now an urgent requirement.

They urge immediate government intervention to upgrade network coverage and ensure seamless digital payment options.

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Points:

- Devotees visiting Srisailam are forced to carry large amounts of cash for daily needs, including temple seva tickets as the famous temple and the town face network snags