TTD IT INITIATIVES-TRANSFORMING DEVOTIONAL TIRUMALA TO DIGITAL TIRUMALA

It is common knowledge that the country’s one of the most important ancient SriVaishnavite hill shrine of Tirumala which is being administered by the temple management of Tirumala TirupatiDevasthanams (TTD), is the premiere hub of devotional and spiritual activities promoted by the saintly people including Alwars, RamanujaCharya, Annamacharya, PurandharaDasa, Vengamamba and many more.

But in the last couple of years years under the stewardship of energetic administrators with a vision for future need, has unleashed a slew of IT solutions to transform Tirumala into a “Digital Tirumala” thereby providing darshan, ladduprasadam, accommodation,arjitasevas etc. to multitude of devotees with much more transparency and speedy way,just with the click of the mouse.

CONTRIBUTION OF TCS IN TTDs SMART GOVERNANCE:

Early February this year, TTD has roped in the IT giant TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) to build up ‘Digital Tirumala’ platform to provide enhanced and also convenient services to the multitude of visiting Pilgrims. The TCS is extending technology and stationing dedicated staffas part of its Corporate Social Responsibility to evolve applications and network to facilitate the devotees and also infuse Smart governance in TTD.

The efforts of TTD EO Dr D Sambasiva Rao who inked the pact with the TCS CEO Natarajan Chandrasekaranin this mammoth task, is proving fruitful with the IT solutions both in the areas of pilgrim management as well in the administrative set up.

OVER60% OF TTD SERVICES MADE ON-LINE

Keeping in view of ever increasing foot fall of devotees toTirumala throughout theyear, TTD has infused IT solutions to provide lastmile connectivity in areas ofdarshan, accommodation, ladduprasadam distribution, Donor cell management system, performance of marriages, srivariseva voluntary service etc.

“Now almost 60-70 per cent of the services are delivered online by introducing software applications. Only a portion of the deliverables is kept on hand to facilitate emergencies and Protocol facilitation“says the TTD EO Dr D Sambasiva Rao, who is the real spirit behind the digitisation.

According to the Chief of TTD administration, “IT solutions are the only way out to provide cutting edge service to the ever increasing footfalls to Tirumala and also to improve delivery of services to pilgrims, expand ourdharmic, social and charitable activities with more transparency and with ease.

IT RELATED SERVICES:

Be it the Rs.300 Sheegra Darahan tickets, Arjithaseva tickets, Accommodation, e-Hundi, Dmat, e-books for donors,everything is decided and allotted through on-line making TTD the first temple management in the entire country “A Digital Pilgrim Centre”. Apart from the pilgrim services, today even the allotment ofprogrammes to Bhajanmandalis, Service areas to SrivariSeva volunteers have also been digitised. Very soon TTD is contemplating to issue online tickets even for tonsuring also, so that the devotees are not forced to stand in queue lines.

NEXT GEN APPLICATION IN THE FORM OF MOBILE APP

From e-booking platform, TTD is now eyeing to go one step further for booking ofdarshan tickets by introducing a mobile app facilitating all on-line services to the pilgrims including purchase of Rs.300darshantickets, arjithasevas, laddus, making e-donations etc. even while they are in journey.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS IN IT SECTOR:

@ Over 6.27 lakh pilgrims hailing from over 100 countries across the globe have booked Rs.300 tickets on-line and had a comfortable darshan.
@ Of the total number over 32% are from Tamil Nadu, 25% from AP and 15% from Karnataka utilized this online facility.
@ So far over two lakhs and odd arjitha Seva tickets have been released online through the newly designed next gen application

ISSUED BY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER TTDs TIRUPATI