Keeping in view the heavy influx of pilgrims to the temple town of Tirumala during the annual Brahmotsavams especially on Garuda Seva Day, the TTD has restricted the entry of two-wheelers on this day to avoid untoward incidents on the ghat road.
Speaking to newsmen here on Thursday, TTD joint executive officer (Tirumala) KS Srinivasa Raju said that as a preventive measure to avoid accidents on the ghat road, the TTD has put curbs on the Garuda Seva day which falls on September 22. The entry of two-wheelers would be restricted on the ghat roads for nearly 30 hours from 12 noon on Friday till 6 a.m on Sunday and wanted the pilgrims to cooperate with the TTD.
As Garuda Seva day draws huge crowds, two-wheelers would not be allowed to ply on the Tirumala-Tirupati ghat roads, so that they are entirely left free for the buses and other four wheelers, instead of getting choked by the 2-wheelers used mostly by the locals to visit Tirumala for the festival, he said.
‘’As an alternative we have requested the RTC to operate more buses along the ghat road,’’he added.
The RTC, which operates 1,400 to 2,000 trips on the ghat road during Brahmotsavams would operate 3,000 trips on Garuda Seva day, he said.
For the benefit of pilgrims 12 additional ticket counters would be provided at different places in the town and buses operated from there. After taking the tickets at these special counters, the passengers can board buses for reaching either the central bus station or Balaji link bus station at Alipiri for catching the Tirumala buses.
Stating that the procession of Garuda Seva would last for about 4 hours ie from 8:30 p.m to 12:30 a.m, he said they are making arrangements for providing water, butter milk, food, medical service etc for the pilgrims waiting in the galleries.
Appealing to the pilgrims not to hurl coins at the deity during the procession, the joint executive officer said mobile hundis would be arranged in galleries where the devotees can drop their offerings to the Lord instead of hurling them during the procession.