TIRUPATI: To address the frequent complaints from devotees ‘of being pushed and not able to have even a fleeting glimpse of Lord Venkateswara properly’ during Mahalaghu darshan, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is contemplating introducing ‘Automated Moving Platform’ (AMP) or the ‘Moving Carpet’.
A trial run of the AMP was carried out at a replica of ‘Ananda Nilayam’ constructed at Dhyanaramam near Alipiri for SV Bhakti Channel on Thursday. Executive officer IYR Krishna Rao and other officials were shown a demonstration with an AMP prototype.
The system will have eight individual platforms, each of 3.5 ft wide and 5 ft long and with a capacity to carry 12 persons at a time. “It moves at a speed of 2 miles per hour and will move on a wooden railing which is not noisy. The 23-ft-long and 17-ft-wide track will be laid between Garuda Alwar Sannidhi and Jaya Vijayas,’’ explained V Ranganathan, head of Bangalore-based BNA Technologies Consultants. Considering AMP’s speed, torque, dimensions, etc it is estimated that by using the AMP about 72 to 96 pilgrims can have darshan per minute and a devotee can have an unhindered view of Lord Venakteswara for about 20 seconds during peak time. TTD will be able to provide darshan to as many as one lakh pilgrims in 18 hours a day. Devotees will be allowed in batches of 12 and the movement will be continuous. Considering the varying heights of pilgrims, a portion of the platform will be elevated, so that everyone can have a comfortable darshan of the Lord.
According to Ranganathan, it will only take 30 minutes to assemble or dismantle the contraption and none of it will require a permanent construction in the temple. The batteries for the AMP will last 8 hours and can be charged. There will be stand-by batteries, just in case.
The executive officer said that at present there were three types of darshan arrangements: up to Kulasekhara Padi (when the rush is minimal); Laghu Darshan, that is up to Ramulavari Meda (when the rush is moderate); and Mahalaghu, up to Jaya Vijayulu (when the rush is the most).
It is during Mahalaghu darshan, the problem of space constraint arises as the Scouts and Guides, who monitor the darshan queue inside the temple, occupy some space. Moreover, their action of gently pushing those in line forward in a bid to quicken the movement of the queue is widely resented. Devotees often complain that this nudging distracts them and robs them of an eyeful darshan of the Lord. The automated moving platform has been thought of as en effective solution to this major problem.
“We have made it clear that any proposal should in no way violate the Agama shastra or hinder the daily rituals. There should not be any permanent structures,’’ the executive officer said.
When the proposal was mooted, some devotees had approached BNA Technologies Consultants which agreed to built the moving carpet and named it Automated Moving Platform. It had constructed a prototype, which can accommodate nine persons and tested it in Bangalore. The trial run was to be performed in the month of February but due to some technical problems it was postponed and done on Thursday. “The trial run will continue for another two or three months to identify any glitches. The platform will be installed only after receiving a positive feedback from devotees,’’ Rao assured.
