TIRUMALA:The income of TTD, through the sale of Darshan, Sheegra Darshan and Break Darshan tickets has dropped by Rs 20 crore. Last year, it was Rs 190 crore and now it was reduced to Rs 170 crore.
According to an official release, the TTD Specified Authority approved Rs 2,530.10 crore budget for 2015-16. Income from sale of human hair also decreased by Rs 20 crore.
It is said the drop of Rs 20 crore in darshan ticket sales was due to the new policy.
This loss also reflected in the revenue from sale of human hair. Last year it was Rs 220 crore, and now it is only Rs 200 crore. From this it is deduced that at least 6.6 lakh less number of devotees had darshan of the Lord.
The TTD estimates Rs 215 crore income for in the coming year through the sale of various darshan tickets, reportedly by increasing the rates of darshan tickets or reintroducing current booking of Rs 300 Sheeghra Darshan at Tirumala also in Tirupati.
The TTD, in the new budget, allocated Rs 150 crore for new projects and Rs 63 crore for maintenance.
The Specified Authority also allotted Rs 50 lakh for archaka welfare.
Along with this, the Specified Authority has resolved to earmark Rs 50 crore for the new fund proposed by the Government of AP recently for the salaries of dharmik staff like archakas, bhajantries and paricharakas, working in small temples at various places in the state, which are more than 20,000 in number.