TTD Launches AI-Powered App To Assist Tirumala Pilgrims
TTD has launched Venkatadri, an AI-powered navigation app offering directions, offline maps, pilgrim services and emergency contacts in five languages.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has launched Venkatadri, a digital navigation and pilgrim assistance application that integrates Google Maps technology with an AI-powered voice assistant to help devotees navigate Tirumala and access essential services.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu virtually launched the application on Monday. Pilgrims can use voice commands to locate places, obtain directions and estimated travel times, and find nearby facilities. An offline navigation feature enables its use in areas with weak or no Internet connectivity.
The application maps more than 350 locations across 25 categories, including darshan entry points, hospitals, medical centres, drinking water points, public toilets, parking areas, bus stops, luggage centres, free footwear deposit centres, food outlets, canteens, room allotment counters, pilgrim help desks, TTD offices, Kalyana Kattas and police stations.
The mapped locations also include the temple and mada streets, shopping complexes and the Annaprasadam complex. The app provides information on restrooms, other temples, room booking facilities and different darshan entry routes.
TTD additional executive officer Venkaiah Chowdary said the integration of Google Maps technology and an AI assistant had brought key locations and pilgrim services onto a common platform. The assistant provides directions, estimated travel times and information on nearby facilities in response to voice commands, allowing pilgrims to locate services independently.
Chowdary said the application had been developed in five languages and tested in different ways.
TTD aims to use AI technology to improve access to pilgrim services and simplify navigation for devotees visiting Tirumala
The application also features “Mark My Spot”, which allows pilgrims to save their parking location or other important places and navigate back to them. It displays free bus routes and timings and provides one-touch access to emergency contacts, police assistance and the TTD helpline.
The application is available in Telugu, English, Kannada, Tamil and Hindi on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Chowdary said TTD was also developing kiosks to provide digital navigation and essential information to pilgrims without smart phones.
