Changes in VIP darshan schedules helped common devotees, says outgoing TTD chairman

TIRUPATI: The outgoing chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board, Y.V. Subba Reddy, has said the removal of L1, L2, and L3 darshan categories, along with the shifting of the VIP Break darshan timings to later hours in the morning, has received massive appreciation from the devotees.

This helped in shortening the waiting time and making the darshan a better spiritual experience for the common devotees, he said while a addressing the media after a board meeting at Annamaiah Bhavan in Tirumala on Monday.

Subba Reddy, who concluded his four-year term as chairman, said these changes, aimed at simplifying the Sarva (free) darshan process, were among the main accomplishments of his tenure.

He thanked TTD executive officer A.V. Dharma Reddy and the entire TTD workforce for the successful implementation of this decision. He also extended his best wishes to his successor, Bhumana Karunakar Reddy.

Briefing the media on the main resolutions passed by the TTD board at its meeting, the chairman said there was a nod to allocate Rs 118.83 crore for the Srinivasa Setu expressway works. The payment will be disbursed to the agency upon the conclusion of the associated tasks.

Additionally, the board has earmarked Rs 75.86 crore for procurement of advanced medical equipment for the Sri Padmavathi Children's Heart Centre.

Subba Reddy said Rs 24 crore has been earmarked for construction of protective walls along the twin ghat roads to enhance road safety and prevent accidents. Another Rs 4 crore has been sanctioned for construction of shelters from Mokalimettu to the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple on the Alipiri footway.

A sum of Rs 23.50 crore has been allocated for establishment of a Queue Complex for devotees in Tiruchanoor, similar to the Vaikuntam queue complex in Tirumala.