New chairman of Tirumala Trust promises to eliminate VIP culture at Tirupati temple

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has vowed to end the VIP culture at the holy temple. Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, the legislator of Tirupati, officially assumed the role of Chairman at the TTD on Thursday. Administered the oath within the hill temple by TTD Executive Officer AV Dharma Reddy, Reddy wasted no time in expressing his commitment to effecting change.

In his inaugural press conference, Reddy asserted his determination to eradicate the VIP culture that has lingered in the hill town. He emphasized prioritizing exceptional services for common devotees, aiming to offer them the best experiences. Voicing concerns about the VIP culture at Tirumala, the newly appointed TTD chairman highlighted the plight of common devotees who travel long distances using public transportation, subsequently trek the Tirumala hills, and endure extended hours in queues, all for a fleeting glimpse of Lord Venkateswara.

Reddy stressed the need to prioritize these devotees. He earnestly appealed to friends, relatives, and VIPs to refrain from exerting pressure on the TTD administration for VIP darshan tickets. Instead, he urged them to collaborate with the temple trust to facilitate optimal accommodations and darshan arrangements for common devotees.

Devotees were forced to wait in huge queuing lines for over 24 hours earlier this year in June to offer prayers to Lord Venkateswara. The temple draws between 50,000 and 100,000 pilgrims every day (30 to 40 million people annually on average), with crowds reaching 500,000 on important occasions and festivals such as the annual Brahmotsavam. Reddy conveyed his gratitude to former Chief Minister Dr.