TTD's token scanning curbs Dalari menace
Update: 2024-06-27 01:45 GMT
TIRUPATI: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has tackled the longstanding 'Dalari' problem on the Srivari Mettu pedestrian route to the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala by reintroducing the Divya Darshan (DD) token scanning.
This has put an end to fraudulent practices that caused difficulties to the pilgrims for years.
Unscrupulous auto-rickshaw and jeep drivers operating from Tirupati's bus stand and railway station used to hold out promises of "special darshan" for pilgrims and seek exorbitant fees for this. They exploited the devotees' unfamiliarity with the darshan procedures for pilgrims trekking the Tirumala hills via the Srivari Mettu route.
Previously, due to fears over wild animal attacks, devotees trekking to Tirumala were allowed darshan without scanning at the 1200th step of the Srivari Mettu route after they took the DD tokens. Drivers took advantage of this leniency by camping at transportation hubs in Tirupati to lure devotees with false promises of arranging darshan tickets.
A network of auto and jeep drivers acted in ways as to bypass the trekking requirement. They would transport devotees directly to the ticket counter, enabling them to receive tokens without completing the pilgrimage on foot.
This practice not only violated TTD regulations but also resulted in devotees paying substantial sums for this illicit service, officials said.
TTD Executive Officer J Syamala Rao reinstated the regulations. The revived measures make it mandatory for devotees with DD tokens to undergo scanning at the 1200th step of the Srivari Mettu route. Those who haven't been scanned are now prohibited from entering the darshan queue lines.
“This has eliminated opportunities for fraudulent activities. Now, only those who have genuinely trekked the path can access the darshan queues," TTD stated.
Pilgrims have also expressed relief at this development. Ramesh Kumar, a devotee from Bangalore, shared his experience: "On my previous visit, I fell victim to one such scheme. This time, the process was transparent and I felt reassured that everyone was following the rules."
While the new measures have been successful, some devotees suggest increasing the DD token quota (4,000 tickets) during weekends to accommodate the large influx of pilgrims.
This has put an end to fraudulent practices that caused difficulties to the pilgrims for years.
Unscrupulous auto-rickshaw and jeep drivers operating from Tirupati's bus stand and railway station used to hold out promises of "special darshan" for pilgrims and seek exorbitant fees for this. They exploited the devotees' unfamiliarity with the darshan procedures for pilgrims trekking the Tirumala hills via the Srivari Mettu route.
Previously, due to fears over wild animal attacks, devotees trekking to Tirumala were allowed darshan without scanning at the 1200th step of the Srivari Mettu route after they took the DD tokens. Drivers took advantage of this leniency by camping at transportation hubs in Tirupati to lure devotees with false promises of arranging darshan tickets.
A network of auto and jeep drivers acted in ways as to bypass the trekking requirement. They would transport devotees directly to the ticket counter, enabling them to receive tokens without completing the pilgrimage on foot.
This practice not only violated TTD regulations but also resulted in devotees paying substantial sums for this illicit service, officials said.
TTD Executive Officer J Syamala Rao reinstated the regulations. The revived measures make it mandatory for devotees with DD tokens to undergo scanning at the 1200th step of the Srivari Mettu route. Those who haven't been scanned are now prohibited from entering the darshan queue lines.
“This has eliminated opportunities for fraudulent activities. Now, only those who have genuinely trekked the path can access the darshan queues," TTD stated.
Pilgrims have also expressed relief at this development. Ramesh Kumar, a devotee from Bangalore, shared his experience: "On my previous visit, I fell victim to one such scheme. This time, the process was transparent and I felt reassured that everyone was following the rules."
While the new measures have been successful, some devotees suggest increasing the DD token quota (4,000 tickets) during weekends to accommodate the large influx of pilgrims.