Card Payments Improves in Tirumala

Tirumala, 17 Oct. 19: The Reception Wing of TTD in Tirumala is marching ahead with latest trends to win the hearts of the multitude of visiting pilgrims. 

The pilgrims are also welcoming this new trendy transformation and lauding the efforts of TTD towards cashless transactions to enhance transparency in the accommodation system.

The Reception wing in Tirumala is Categorized as R1, R2 and R3 with the R1 dealing with VVIP accommodation while the remaining two comprising five Pilgrims Amenities Complexes (PACs), over 7000 rooms in the tariff ranging between Rs.50 to 1500. There are mini Kalyana Kattas, Food Courts and Jalaprasadam units in these areas to cater to the needs of the pilgrims. 

In PACs only locker facility is available for the pilgrims. There are 1256 lockers available in PAC 1,  3300 in PAC 2,  1850 in PAC 3,  in PAC 4 812 in Padmanabha Nilayam located in RTC bus stand. All these lockers are allotted to pilgrims through Locker Allotment System (LAS) application in a transparent manner. 

ACCOMMODATION KITS:

The kits introduced in the accommodation areas and PACs has been receiving huge reception from the pilgrims in recent times. These kits include pillows with covers, blankets and mats which will be provided by TTD to the pilgrims on the additional payment of Rs.10 for a pair of pillows with covers, Rs.10 for two mats, a blanket at Rs.10 and a woolen rug at Rs.20. 

SWIPING MACHINES:

The introduction of swiping machines in accommodation areas to encourage cashless transactions is also gaining a response from pilgrim circles. When the VIP Reception area including Padmavathi and MBC are recording Cent Percent card payments, the areas covered under R2 and R3 including CRO General, TBC, Koustubham, Nandakam, Saptagiri Satralu which are allotted to common pilgrims are also showing good signs of improvement day by day with the percentage recorded between 55% to 60%.

KALYANA MANDAPAM HALLS

Apart from the common pilgrim accommodation allotment, the Reception wing of TTD also takes care of the allotment of Kalyana Mandapams to the pilgrims who are desiring to wed in Tirumala at nominal rents. There are in total 10 such Kalyana Mandapams in Tirumala with the rentals ranging between Rs.200 to Rs.500.