TTD counters handle baggages of over 10 lakh devotees every month

Tirupati: In an expansive effort aimed at extending a hassle-free pilgrimage for devotees trekking up to the sacred abode of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala via the Alipiri and Srivari Mettu pedestrian routes, and also for those who do not wish to avail accommodation but enter the darshan queue lines directly, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has set up 80 luggage deposit and delivery counters across the hill town and at the entrance of Alipiri and Srivari Mettu pedestrian routes.TTD's pilgrim free luggage deposit and delivery services provided to devotees thronging the hill town is one of the most unique services extended with precision 24/7. Additional EO Ch Venkaiah Chowdary said they handle over 10 lakh pilgrim baggages every single month. "There are around 400 personnel who operate in three shifts round the clock to render the free baggage collection and delivery services to devotees," he said.The temple trust has also set up seven free luggage deposit counters for the convenience of devotees trekking up to Tirumala via the Alipiri pedestrian route. Similarly, two free luggage counters are set up near the Srivari Mettu pedestrian route."The idea of establishing the free luggage counters at the entrance of the twin pedestrian routes is aimed at helping devotees undertake the arduous trek to Tirumala without carrying their baggages. We ensure that the baggages deposited by the devotees at Alipiri and Srivari Mettu reach the designated delivery counters near GNC and MBC at Tirumala by the time they complete their holy trek to Tirumala," Chowdary added.Besides trekking devotees, others can also deposit their baggage at the 71 free luggage counters set up by the TTD across Tirumala before heading for darshan. The deposited luggage is then transported to the designated delivery counters at PAC-4, GNC, and TBC areas at Tirumala. Around 10.4 lakh baggage deposits were successfully handled by the temple body in Jan, with luggage centres recording the highest single baggage deposits of 1.3 lakh on the occasion of Radhasapthami festival on Jan 25.