TTD to Address Exploitation of Pilgrims on Srivari Mettu Footpath

Tirupati: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has taken a serious note of complaints that some auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers are misusing the free darshan token system meant for pilgrims walking to Tirumala via the Srivari Mettu footpath.

During an inspection on Tuesday, TTD executive officer (EO) J. Syamala Rao said several pilgrims have reported that auto and taxi drivers have collected money from them under the pretext of arranging special access to darshan tokens, which the TTD issues free of cost to such pilgrims.

Srivari Mettu is a less crowded, yet sacred, trekking route to Tirumala. It is located about 17 km from Alipiri in Tirupati. With limited direct public transport options to the footpath entrance, many pilgrims rely on private auto-rickshaws and taxis.

According to complaints, some drivers are exploiting this dependency by demanding excessive fares, well above standard rates. They also falsely promise darshan tokens as part of their charges.

Following reports of inconvenience faced by devotees in obtaining darshan tokens along the route, the EO conducted a field inspection accompanied by additional EO Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary and JEO V. Veerabrahmam. “Such misuse of TTD facilities for personal gain is unacceptable,” underlined the EO.

He said such practices undermine the objective of the free token system, which is designed to streamline the pilgrimage process and encourage devotees to use traditional walking routes to Tirumala.

To address the issue, Syamala Rao said the TTD is considering a series of corrective measures, including increasing the number of buses from Tirupati to Srivari Mettu, expanding token distribution counters, and enhancing surveillance at key points.

The EO promised that a permanent solution will be found after reviewing the situation and gathering feedback from pilgrims.