Rs.300 ADVANCE BOOKING GAINING PACE-TIRUMALA JEO

Tirumala, 4 September 2014: The newly introduced advanced booking system of Rs.300 special entry darshan tickets is gaining pace among the pilgrim public said, Tirumala JEO Sri KS Sreenivasa Raju.

Addressing the media persons at Annamaiah Bhavan in Tirumala, the JEO said, TTD has introduced the advance booking system of Rs.300 tickets on August 20 and the first phase of pilgrims had their darshan through this new system on August 27. Briefing this new system with statistical data in the last one week from August 27 to September 2, the JEO said, of the 18 thousand tickets allotted in this system of darshan, TTD has released only 11thousand tickets on a trial basis. “Out of this figure, five thousands will be issued under e-Darshan quota and the remaining six thousand under internet quota.

Giving further details, the JEO said, “In the last one week 91,030 pilgrims had darshan in Rs.300 system. Out of them, 23,477 had darshan through the newly introduced advance booking system. Among them, 18,647 pilgrims had booked the tickets and availed darshan under internet booking while 4,830 had darshan under e-Darshan tickets” JEO added.

“But till the new system gets stabilized we will be issuing 7000 tickets under current booking. Once the system becomes stable, we will stop current booking. Since the period starting from Third week of August to Third week of September is considered to be slag period, there is considerable decrease in pilgrim crowd. We can judge on the exact results only after September 20 with the advent of Dasara Holidays combined with Srivari Annual Brahmotsavams which is the peak season for the pilgrim influx”, he maintained.

ALL DAMS FULL: Tirumala JEO said that with the recent rainfalls all the major dams in Tirumala including Gogabham, Papavinasanam, Akasa Ganga, Kumaradhara-Pasupudhara are filled with waters that would suffice the needs of pilgrims and locals. “About 750 lakh gallons of waters added to these reservoirs which will last for next three months”, he added.

ISSUED BY TTDs PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, TIRUPATI