Hyderabad, June 22, 2013: The Endowments Department has sent a plan to step up security for the Tirumala pilgrim town and its surroundings for Centre’s vetting in the wake of increased threat perception based on intelligence inputs.

Disclosing this in the Legislative Council on Friday, Endowments Minister C. Ramachandraiah said that an Outer Ring Road would be constructed around Tirupati with restricted entry points for better surveillance.

At present, the area in the ‘Mada street’ near the Tirumala temple area is being cordoned off and 50 per cent of the work is completed, he said.

In response to N. Rajakumari’s query on proposal to declare Tirupati as liquor-free town following a petition filed in the High Court, the Minister said that liquor was prohibited on Tirumala shrine which was under the jurisdiction of the Endowment department. The Tirupati town, however, would come under the Excise department.

B. Venkatewarulu (TDP) said that TTD Chairman and officials enjoyed enormous discretionary powers in allotting ‘Suprabhata Seva’ tickets, accommodation at Padmavathi guest house to the disadvantage of common pilgrims.

The rules related to break darshan were changed frequently leading to confusion among devotees, he said. However, the Minister said decisions were taken based on pilgrim rush and to regulate the devotees for ‘darshan’.

Source: The Hindu