TTD makes Aadhaar card mandatory for pedestrian-pilgrims at Tirumala

Earlier, the TTD had made identity cards compulsory for Srivari Sevakulu, and booking of accommodation.

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The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which runs the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala, on Wednesday made the Aadhaar card mandatory for all pedestrian-pilgrims, for transparency.



Stating that the governing body's earlier decision to make identity cards compulsory for Srivari Sevakulu, and booking of accommodation "yielded fruitful results" and "minimised misuse of services," the TTD stated that it planned to extend the same process further.



Meanwhile, The New Indian Express reported that the cost of the Tirupati laddu may also be hiked soon.



Quoting sources, TNIE reported that there was a proposal to withdraw the subsidy and sell the laddu for its production cost of around Rs 34.70 or hike the price to Rs 40 a piece.



“The issue of either hiking the price or withdrawing the subsidy was discussed in board meetings in the past. Though we have not taken any decision, we may have to, in the future, since there is no other alternative,” TTD Chairman Chadalawada Krishna Murthy told the newspaper.



"If a pilgrim does not have Aadhaar card, he or she can produce documents like passport, voter-card, driving licence or PAN card," a statement by the TTD added.



Among other things, the TTD had also announced that it would redevelop the temple of Goddess Vakula, who is considered to be the mother of Lord Venkateswara.



Earlier, the board wrote to the government, seeking the addition of 447 posts of archakas and paricha-rakas in TTD temples and sub-temples.