Arrangements to meet pilgrim rush during Brahmotsavams

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUMALA, AUG. 2. Elaborate arrangements are being made to meet the pilgrim rush during the nine-day annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara scheduled to commence here from September 20.

In a high-level meeting convened at the S.V. Guest House today in which top officials of the T.T.D., A.P.S.R.T.C., and the district police officials participated, it was decided to dispense the V.I.P. break darshan on all the nine days during the festival period so as to provide more time for the ordinary pilgrims. It was also decided to continue with the present advance reservations of the cottages for the convenience of the visiting pilgrims. Pilgrims shall be served on first-come-first-served basis. All the pre-dawn rituals like Suprabhatam, Thomala, Archana shall be performed to the Lord in `Ekantham'.

Semi-permanent structures will be constructed at two vital points on the hills for the accommodation of the pilgrims. Apart from this the concerned engineering department officials were also directed to identify more locations for the construction of similar structures.

It was also decided to maintain a buffer stock of at least two lakh laddus apart from initiating stringent steps to see that there is no waiting time at the Kalyanakatta complex -- the place where the devotees offer their hair as a fulfillment of their vows.

The A.P.S.R.T.C. was requested to run additional buses on both the ghat roads apart from enhancing the number of trips. Additional buses shall be run from different pats of the State to Tirumala for the convenience of the pilgrims.

State-level floral exhibition competitions will be organised atop the hills during the festival period. Required formalities for inviting various reputed organisations to participate in the exhibition is on the cards.

With regard to the police, the T.T.D. has requested the district police authorities to deploy at least 1,000 police personnel for the nine days during the Brahmotsavam period.

The T.T.D. Executive Officer, Mr. P. Krishnaiah, who chaired the meeting, directed the Vigilance and security officials to chalk out an action plan for better assessment of the duties of both the T.T.D. vigilance and security and State police personnel. It was also decided to bring out the New Year calendar of the T.T.D. for 2002 during the Brahmotsavams.

The two T.T.D. J.E.O.s, Mr. P. Balasubramanyam and Mr. K. Narayana, conservator of T.T.D. forests, Mr. Venkataramaiah, also participated in the meeting.

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Section  : Southern States
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