The Hindu : TTD to introduce gift cheques at post offices

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 17, 2003

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National

TTD to introduce gift cheques at post offices

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUMALA MAY 16. The Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam Trust Board will make available gift cheques of different denominations — not exceeding Rs.10,000 — at all post offices to enable devotees of Lord Venkateswara to send their offerings by post.

The chairman of the trust board, P. Chalapathi Rao, said today that the board decided at its monthly meeting to invite tenders to dispose of foreign coin currencies offered by devotees. "As it has become difficult for the board to ascertain the actual value of the staggering 10 tonnes of foreign coins received over a period, it has decided to go through with the tender process".

To begin the construction of the controversial third prakaram of the temple, the board has finalised tenders to dismantle the centuries-old thousand pillar mandapam and rebuild the same at the site of the present PPC Sheds, behind the main temple, at a cost of Rs.4.40 crores.

Tenders relating to the widening of the East Mada Street up to Sri Bedi Anjaneya Swamy temple at a cost of Rs.4.95 crores were also approved.

Other decisions taken by the board included construction of 447 houses at a cost of Rs.2.68 crores at Mangalam, Tirupathi, for the benefit of the displaced tenants of Tirumala, an additional college building to the TTD-run S.V. Junior College at a cost of Rs.5 crores, a hostel building at a cost of Rs.2.5 crores, two shopping complexes at a cost of Rs.1 crore and Rs. 85 lakhs respectively at the Pathapuram Das site and in front of S.V. High School grounds.

Laghu darshanam at Tiruchanoor

In a surprise move, the board today resolved to introduce the "laghu darshanam" system (presently in vogue at Tirumala) at Sri Padmavathi temple, Tiruchanoor, on all festival days and during the summer season.

With a view to further strengthening the security arrangements, it has been decided to instal four multi-zone DEMD machine scanners in addition to the two rapid scanning machines already installed at the main entrance of the temple complex.

Dress code

Traditional dress for the devotees participating in the predawn rituals of Thomala and Archana (performed inside the temple) will be made compulsory from June 1. While men should wear dhoti and kanduva (upper cloth) women shall be asked to come in sarees or churidars. Jeans and bermudas will be prohibited.

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