TTD Reforms Ease Summer Rush at Tirumala, Waiting Time Comes Down

Tirupati:The recent reforms introduced by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams administration are showing results in managing the summer pilgrim rush at Tirumala.

Devotees are experiencing comparatively faster and smoother darshan despite a rise in pilgrim arrivals over the weekend.

Usually, Tirumala witnesses heavy congestion during the summer holidays, with pilgrims waiting for long hours in queue complexes and the outside line.

However, the recent administrative and technology-driven measures introduced by TTD have improved queue movement and increased pilgrim handling capacity.

A comparison of the corresponding weekend rush figures of 2024 and 2026 shows the change in crowd management. On May 10, 2024, around 60,545 pilgrims had darshan and devotees waited nearly 12 hours for free darshan. In contrast, on May 8, 2026, despite 67,222 devotees having darshan, waiting time was restricted to around 10 hours.

Similarly, on May 11, 2024, about 76,945 devotees had darshan and the waiting time crossed 16 hours. However, on May 9, 2026, even as 81,512 pilgrims had darshan, the waiting time was maintained between 14 and 16 hours. A major improvement was seen on Sunday.

On May 12, 2024, around 80,001 devotees had darshan with the waiting time ranging between 8-10 hours. This May 10, the number increased to 85,942 pilgrims, but devotees completed their darshan within about 6-8 hours.

TTD officials attributed the improvement to multiple reforms implemented in recent months. One of the decisions was the suspension of break darshan recommendation letters, except for protocol dignitaries visiting personally.

Officials said extended VIP darshan breaks earlier slowed queue movement for common pilgrims.

“By restricting recommendation-based VIP breaks, nearly two additional hours are now available daily for common devotees. This has improved queue clearance and increased the number of pilgrims getting darshan every day", a senior TTD official said.

The temple body also strengthened monitoring through its AI-supported Integrated Command and Control Centre, which continuously tracks queue complexes and pilgrim movement using CCTV surveillance and real-time analytics. Officials said the system analyses crowd density, queue speed and compartment occupancy in real time, allowing them to regulate slot movement, divert pilgrims when necessary and prevent congestion before it builds up.

“Earlier, one category of darshan used to delay another category. Now, queue movement is being synchronised scientifically without stopping one slot for another. AI-based monitoring is helping us maintain continuous pilgrim flow", the official added. According to him, the time-slotted sarva darshan devotees are now completing darshan within 3-4 hours, while the Rs 300 special entry darshan pilgrims are getting darshan in less than three hours even during the summer rush period.