HYDERABAD: In order to put an end to VIP culture in Tirumala the Andhra Pradesh government is planning to introduce an online ‘slot’ booking facility.
Disclosing to media persons here on Monday, Endowments Minister P Manikyal Rao said that soon an online slot booking facility would be introduced in Tirumala which would allow one to book slot at a selected time and during that time he would be allowed inside the temple irrespective of rush or VIP darshan. The slot booking will cost Rs 300 per head.
“Once the slot booking facility comes into force those who book slot through online would only be allowed darshan in Tirumala and the VIP darshan would be abolished in a phased manner”, he remarked. As the common devotees are facing lot of problems due to VIP darshnam, the state government has taken decision to end the VIP culture and stop issuing VIP letters, the endowment minister said.
“Already I have reduced the VIP passes from 3,500 to 800 per day due which the waiting time has come down from 30 hours to 7 hours”, he claimed.
The endowment department has decided to put all the details of temples’ properties situated in the state on a website, the minister informed. “Already we have started negotiations with software companies like TCS for creating a website for sharing information about temple properties”, he informed.
In an effort to bring transparency in the functioning of the temples, the endowment department has decided to bring temples under Right to Information Act, he said. In order to give boost to temple tourism the state government was taking initiative, he said. All temples would have the “NTR Sujala” water scheme centres, which the government will launch on October 2, he said.
English school in each district
The AP endowment department would soon set up an English medium model school in each district of the state. These schools would follow CBSE syllabus and also have “Hindu sanatan dharma” as one of the subjects. The school would be run through donors contribution and provide high quality education, the endowment minister said. He said that the existing Veda Paathshaalas are not doing well as it was still following the traditional dress code and other rules which the present generation was finding it difficult to follow leading to fall in the admissions in these institutions.
PERFECT SLOT
■ Andhra Pradesh government planning to introduce an online ‘slot’ booking facility in Tirumala.
■ The slot booking set to cost Rs 300 per head
■ The VIP darshan to be abolished in a phased manner
■ VIP passes reduced from 3,500 to 800 per day
■ Waiting time comes down from 30 hours to 7 hours
■ Endowments department to put all the details of temples’ properties situated in the state on a website.
■ To set up English medium model school in each district of the state