TTD Prioritizes Common Devotees in Darshan Time, Says EO Anil Kumar Singhal
In a move that highlights the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ (TTD) commitment to transparency and devotion, Executive Officer Sri Anil Kumar Singhal reaffirmed that common devotees continue to receive top priority during darshan timings at the holy shrine of Sri Venkateswara Swamy in Tirumala.
During the monthly “Dial Your EO” program held at Annamayya Bhavan on Friday, the TTD EO interacted with 17 pilgrim callers and addressed various issues related to darshan, ticketing, and devotee services. The live session aimed to strengthen communication between TTD management and the pilgrims visiting the temple from across the country.
Vaikuntha Ekadasi Darshan Tickets: Transparency Assured
Speaking about the upcoming Vaikuntha Ekadasi Dwara Darshan, scheduled from December 30 to January 8, EO Singhal said that TTD is planning a transparent system for issuing tickets and tokens. The online and offline release of tickets will be finalized after thorough verification to avoid inconvenience to devotees.
“We are contemplating allocating tokens transparently and will announce the details soon once finalized,” he said.
The EO emphasized that all decisions regarding darshan tickets are taken only after considering feedback from devotees through surveys, WhatsApp messages, emails, and letters. He added that even now, more than 70% of the available darshan time is allotted to common devotees, ensuring that the spiritual experience remains accessible to all.
Support for Physically Challenged Devotees
Addressing a caller’s concern about physically challenged devotees, the EO informed that Srivari Seva volunteers are already deployed to assist them in having a smooth darshan without long waits in queues. He reiterated that TTD is committed to providing a hassle-free darshan experience for everyone.
Decisions Based on Devotee Feedback
Responding to suggestions about reducing advance booking time for tickets, adjusting SSD token timings, and SRIVANI ticket management, EO Singhal said that all these factors are periodically reviewed. The TTD Board has also formed a special committee to study and improve various darshan formats to make the pilgrimage more convenient.
Warning Against Middlemen and Dalaris
In a strong message, the EO urged devotees not to fall prey to brokers or middlemen who claim to provide special darshan tickets for money. He reminded pilgrims that the SRIVANI scheme was introduced precisely to eliminate middlemen and to utilize contributions for building Srivari temples in rural and backward regions.
Other Key Updates
During the session, EO Singhal also mentioned that the pending job notification issue in the Engineering Department (2023) will be resolved within 15 days. Additionally, pilgrims gave valuable suggestions on the timely delivery of Sapthagiri Magazine, refund of caution deposits, and even proposed the launch of a TTD Eye Bank.
Senior TTD officials, including Additional EO Sri Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary, JEO Sri Veerabrahmam, CVSO Sri Muralikrishna, CEO SVBC Sri Phanikumar Naidu, and CE Sri Satyanarayana, were also present during the program.
Key Highlights
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70% darshan time reserved for common devotees
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Vaikuntha Ekadasi Darshan (Dec 30–Jan 8) to be released soon
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Physically challenged devotees to receive special assistance
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TTD warns against middlemen and brokers
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Engineering job notification update expected within 15 days
