TTD allots Rs 24 crore to construct crash barriers on ghat roads

TIRUPATI: With a series of road accidents reported on the Tirumala ghat roads in the last couple of months, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has decided to construct crash barriers on the ghat roads at an estimated cost of Rs 24 crore to curb the rising number of accidents. A decision in this regard was taken during the TTD board meeting held at Tirumala on Monday.

Speaking after participating in the TTD trust board meeting at Annamayya Bhavan, TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy said that the police suggested a slew of measures to curb accidents on Tirumala ghat roads. Steps were being taken to install CCTV cameras and signboards with the support of police at each turning where the incidence of mishaps was high, he said.

"Scrapping L1,L2,L3 categorisation and changing the VIP break darshan timings to late morning hours, allowing common pilgrims to have darshan by reducing their waiting time in queues and compartments is the most satisfying decision in my four-year term as TTD Trust Board Chairman,” YV Subba Reddy said.

Subbba Reddy said that providing hassle-free darshan to a number of pilgrims was what he considered the most satisfying decision out of many historical decisions his board had taken during his tenure. He thanked the TTD Executive Officer (EO) AV Dharma Reddy and employees of TTD for supporting his decisions and carrying them out in a successful manner to the satisfaction of the pilgrims.

Subba Reddy also congratulated his successor and Tirupati Legislator B Karunakar Reddy. Earlier, he also briefed on the important decisions taken during the boarding meeting. Here are a few excerpts of the decisions.

• Rs 75.86 crore worth of advanced equipment for the Sri Padmavathi Children's Heart Centre which was coming up in Tirupati adjacent to RUIA hospital.
• Rs 23.50 crore for constructing a Queue Complex for devotees in Tiruchanoor, akin to Vaikuntam Queue complex in Tirumala.
• Rs 14.10 crore towards the construction of additional floors and Ground Floor in SV Ayurvedic Hospital and another Rs.3 crore towards the construction of two more floors in the girls' hostel in Ayurvedic college.
• Rs.11 crore towards the construction of a Boys Hostel for students of SV College of Music and Dance, SV Nadaswaram School Rs.9.85 crore towards the development works of Vakulamata Temple with SRIVANI Trust funds.
• Rs 5 crore towards various development works at SV Vedic University.
• Rs 4 crore for laying shelter from Mokalimettu to Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple footway.
• Rs 4.50 crore for procuring advanced machinery for making Srivari Anna Prasadams and another Rs. 4.25cr for setting up Ghee Plant in SV Gosala.
• Rs.3.10 crore development works in Srinivasa Mangapuram temple.
• Rs.3 crore for constructing a subway(extension) near Srinivasam.
• Rs.2.50 crore towards the development works in PAC1.
• Rs.2.20 crore for establishing Electric buses Charging Station in Tirumala.
• Rs.2.20 crore for constructing a new TBCD Ward in Ruia hospital.
• Rs.1.65 crore towards the development of Veshalamma and Tallapaka Pedda Gangamma temples in Tirupati.
• Rs.1.25 crore towards laying fencing for the 69 TTD properties located at different places across the country which were identified unprotected.
• More than 26 temples to be developed under SRIVANI Trust funds Rs.118.83 crore to be released in the last phase after the completion of Srinivasa Setu works.
• The renowned and veteran Annamacharya Project artist, Dr Garimella Balakrishna Prasad had been given extension for three more years to serve as Asthana Vidhwan of TTD.