TIRUPATI, INDIA, October 2, 2005: Buoyed by the success of the e-Darshan facility introduced by it in all the district headquarters in the state, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has decided to expand the facility to all the state capitals shortly. The TTD introduced the facility a few months ago in all the district headquarters and in Bangalore and Chennai. Through e-Darshan facility, the devotees of Lord Venkateswara can obtain “sudarshan tokens” from three to 30 days in advance. The tickets will be issued after collecting the thumb impression and the exact time and date of darshan would be mentioned. The thumb impression would be cross-checked at the time of their visit to the temple for darshan so that there is no impersonation or other types of fraud. TTD centres in all the districts where the facility was introduced received patronage from the devotees as obtaining a ticket this way completely eliminates the waiting time on Tirumala Hills. E-Darshan counters are also issuing some seva tickets (for doing volunteer work at the temple). TTD information technology wing manager Siva Sankar Reddy said that broadband connectivity and other infrastructure facilities are being created in all the state capitals and a few other important cities in the second phase. “We will introduce the facility soon,” he added. Reddy said that touch screen information kiosks are being set up in important locations in the temple towns of Tirupati and Tirumala. Devotees can obtain Darshan timings, availability of accommodation and other information from the kiosks.
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