Fleeced at the Foothills: Devotees Face Rampant Overcharging by Private Taxis in Tirumala
Taxi operators boss over Tirumala roads, pilgrims as enforcement takes back seat
Update: 2026-06-21 20:26 GMT
- Devotees allege private taxis and Commander jeeps occupy most roads, causing traffic congestion across Tirumala.
- Taxi operators charge ₹100-₹600 for short trips and up to ₹800 during night hours, pilgrims say.
- Overcrowding in TTD's free bus services during peak periods forces many pilgrims to rely on private transport.
- Devotees demand strict enforcement, fixed fares, and a prepaid taxi system to curb overcharging and improve traffic management.
TIRUPATI: The menace of private taxis, particularly jeeps, in Tirumala is growing, with devotees alleging overcharging, weak enforcement by traffic police, and occupation of space meant for public atop the hill town.
Every day, thousands of pilgrims depend on local transport to travel between Tirupati and Tirumala, to search for accommodation centres, reach the darshan entry points, and for visiting local tourist spots. Devotees allege private transport operators charge anywhere between ₹100 and ₹600 within Tirumala, despite the distances being short.
Night-time fares range from ₹200 to ₹800 depending on demand. A journey of barely three km, between the bus stand and the Vaikuntam queue complex, costs from ₹100 to ₹300 per passenger.
Unfamiliar with local routes and distances, many pilgrims are at the mercy of taxi operators. TTD operates free buses connecting various locations in Tirumala. But these are overcrowded during weekends, holidays, and peak seasons; often forcing devotees to depend on private transport.
Such recurring complaints have renewed demands for prepaid taxi counters and a fixed fare system.
Another complaint of devotees is about taxi operators taking over several roads and junctions. At many locations, jeeps and private cabs can be seen waiting for passengers. Pilgrims charge that roads meant for free movement of vehicles are being used as informal taxi stands, leading to congestion and inconvenience.
"Wherever we went, we saw jeeps parked along the roads waiting for customers. At some places, traffic slows down because vehicles occupy road space. The TTD is aware of it. But there seems to be no solution", said a devotee from Bengaluru.
The criticism comes at a time when Tirumala's traffic police wing is grappling with manpower constraints. The department reportedly functions with just one circle inspector, four sub-inspectors, and around 20 constables, despite heavy pilgrim traffic, and VIP and VVIP movements.
Traffic personnel are deployed at only about 10 major points, whereas congestion is reported at more than 20 locations across Tirumala. To bridge the gap, TTD has deployed private security guards and ex-servicemen. But devotees say traffic remains chaotic.
Frequent devotees say the problem has persisted for years, despite repeated complaints. TTD and traffic police say they organise periodic awareness programmes for taxi operators. However, devotees maintain that unless TTD and traffic police move beyond counselling and start strict enforcement and fines, road encroachments and fare violations will continue at the expense of pilgrims.
- Overcrowding in TTD's free bus services during peak periods forces many pilgrims to rely on private transport.
- Devotees demand strict enforcement, fixed fares, and a prepaid taxi system to curb overcharging and improve traffic management.
TIRUPATI: The menace of private taxis, particularly jeeps, in Tirumala is growing, with devotees alleging overcharging, weak enforcement by traffic police, and occupation of space meant for public atop the hill town.
Every day, thousands of pilgrims depend on local transport to travel between Tirupati and Tirumala, to search for accommodation centres, reach the darshan entry points, and for visiting local tourist spots. Devotees allege private transport operators charge anywhere between ₹100 and ₹600 within Tirumala, despite the distances being short.
Night-time fares range from ₹200 to ₹800 depending on demand. A journey of barely three km, between the bus stand and the Vaikuntam queue complex, costs from ₹100 to ₹300 per passenger.
Unfamiliar with local routes and distances, many pilgrims are at the mercy of taxi operators. TTD operates free buses connecting various locations in Tirumala. But these are overcrowded during weekends, holidays, and peak seasons; often forcing devotees to depend on private transport.
Such recurring complaints have renewed demands for prepaid taxi counters and a fixed fare system.
Another complaint of devotees is about taxi operators taking over several roads and junctions. At many locations, jeeps and private cabs can be seen waiting for passengers. Pilgrims charge that roads meant for free movement of vehicles are being used as informal taxi stands, leading to congestion and inconvenience.
"Wherever we went, we saw jeeps parked along the roads waiting for customers. At some places, traffic slows down because vehicles occupy road space. The TTD is aware of it. But there seems to be no solution", said a devotee from Bengaluru.
The criticism comes at a time when Tirumala's traffic police wing is grappling with manpower constraints. The department reportedly functions with just one circle inspector, four sub-inspectors, and around 20 constables, despite heavy pilgrim traffic, and VIP and VVIP movements.
Traffic personnel are deployed at only about 10 major points, whereas congestion is reported at more than 20 locations across Tirumala. To bridge the gap, TTD has deployed private security guards and ex-servicemen. But devotees say traffic remains chaotic.
Frequent devotees say the problem has persisted for years, despite repeated complaints. TTD and traffic police say they organise periodic awareness programmes for taxi operators. However, devotees maintain that unless TTD and traffic police move beyond counselling and start strict enforcement and fines, road encroachments and fare violations will continue at the expense of pilgrims.