TTD to focus on pilgrim accommodation

TIRUMALA: The new board of trustees of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, at its maiden meeting held here on Saturday, resolved to increase the accommodation for pilgrims visiting the hill shrine and to revive the TV studio in Hyderabad.The meeting, presided over by board chairman Kanumuri Bapiraju, placed on record its deep appreciation of the efforts and decisions of the Specified Authority which the board replaced. The board spent time getting a grasp of issues concerning the  administration and needs of devotees.Talking with reporters after the meeting, Bapiraju, who looked different without his trademark mustache, said they were very appreciative of the work done by Specified Authority.``Our main focus will be on improving the accommodation for the visiting pilgrims. The TTD has already started renovating two blocks of guest houses and the pilgrim amenities complex on Tirumala, and  there are six more such blocks needing renovation. We want to approach firms of international standards for taking up the renovation work on `no-profit, no-loss’ basis, and complete it by the end of the current year,’’ he said.Necessary arrangements are being made for the annual Brahmotsavams commencing towards the end of this month and the board decided to bring out TTD diaries and calendars earlier than it used to be done in the past. Nearly half of the calendars and diaries would be released during the Brahmotsavams, he said.Assuring that the board would work as cohesive unit, he said it would take any criticisim of it in sportive spirit and make an introspection to work in a transparent manner.Executive officer and member-secretary LV Subrahmanyam, briefing the media on the board’s decisions, said the board decided to print 10 lakh calendars and four lakh diaries, and release half of them on September 29. “The board appreciated the good work done by the disbanded specified authority. It also lauded the recruitment procedure adopted recently and decided to seek legal opinion for recruitment of 210 security guards in TTD with Intermediate-qualified youth from Chittoor district.’’The board also resolved to appoint a committee, with a board member on it, for Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel (SVBC), the broadcasting arm of the TTD. It also decided to restart the SVBC studio in Hyderabad in collaboration with Mana TV. ``The needed technical arrangements are being made. The studio will help us bring out feature programmes. The studio is being started in Hyderabad again to enable actors and experts to participate in the programmes,’’ Subrahmanyam said.The SVBC studio in Hyderabad was wound up when the channel’s headquarters was shifted from Hyderabad to Tirupati nearly two years ago.By another decision the board sought a detailed report on the educational and health institutions being run by the TTD to be presented at the next board meeting. ``The board sought the report to study and make necessary suggestions for improving the institutions and make them centres of excellence,’’ the EO explained.Board members C Mutyam Reddy, R Suryaprakasa Rao and P Rajeswari Devi, endowment commissioner J Balaramaiah, principal secretary, revenue (endowments) KV Ramanachary and TTD JEO KS Srinivasa Raju were also present.