Unending problems for Tirumala pilgrims

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI, MAY 1. The multitudes of pilgrims thronging the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara, Tirumala, this summer are being subjected to greater ordeals than ever before.

While some of the problems are natural and rush- induced, some are undoubtedly man-made which could have been avoided if only there was a greater coordination and cohesion among the TTD's top-rung officials.

There is no denying the fact that the rush this season is heavier than the previous years, notwithstanding the gruelling heat. Top TTD officials held their customary pre-summer drill this time too to put on top gear its administration to meet the rush. However, much to their discomfiture, complaints continue to pour in from pilgrims about distribution of computerised `Sudarsanam' tokens, inordinate delay in providing darshan - sometimes even upto 24 hours - and, rather unusually, in making arrangements for food this time.

The sophisticated bar-coded `Sudarsanam' token system, conceived and introduced with fanfare by the TTD's Executive Officer, Dr. I.V. Subba Rao on Ugadi (April 1) last year to rationalise the darshan mechanism, is yet to get out of its initial problems. There have been allegations of attempts by some ``vested interests'' to subvert the system.

The main intention behind the concept and implementation of the Sudarsanam token system was to save the pilgrims the trouble of waiting for hours in long-winding queues for darshan. In fact, the system was well-received by the pilgrims. But a lot of confusion was created on its implementation and an artificial scarcity too was being frequently triggered. Consequently, the tokens are now being distributed only to those buying the Rs.50 special darshan tickets, excluding from its purview the free darshan pilgrims. In the past, it was made mandatory for all pilgrims alike to secure the tokens.

It is said that those who do not have the tokens have quicker darshans. For a pilgrim who buys his Rs.50 special darshan ticket and takes the token at 7 a.m., the probable time mentioned on the token will be 7 p.m. He will show up at the Queue-Complex an hour or two in advance as required under the system. But, it is said, it takes him another three or four hours longer to get the darshan.

Another factor posing a serious problem to the visiting pilgrims at Tirumala this season is the non-availability of food and other eatables in the wake of the dislocation caused to the normal working of a few leading hotels following the TTD's move to get their previous owners evicted and instal in their place new lease-holders. The legal formalities and the procedural wrangle involved in finalising the fresh lease delayed the reopening. This has caused an artificial food scarcity on the hills during the last fortnight.

Ironically, the road-side eating places and kiosks, which the TTD had opposed for running their business without licence and for encroaching into its land, have come to the rescue of the pilgrims. To compound the problems, there is also a water scarcity.

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Section  : Regional
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