Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu calls for transforming TTD temples into advanced spiritual hubs

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday (March 21) underscored the need for transforming the temples under the aegis of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) into state-of-the-art spiritual centres, blending tradition with cutting-edge technology to enhance the pilgrim experience.

Reviewing the operations of the Artificial Intelligence-enabled Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) at the Vaikuntham Queue Complex, the Chief Minister emphasised the importance of proactive governance in ensuring a seamless and hassle-free pilgrimage. He directed the officials to further strengthen systems capable of anticipating potential inconveniences to devotees and addressing them in real time.

Mr. Naidu stressed that the Command and Control Centre should monitor every stage of a pilgrim’s journey — from entry into queue lines to the completion of darshan and departure — ensuring the highest standards of service delivery. He also called for the deployment of advanced surveillance infrastructure, including high-resolution CCTV cameras and facial recognition systems, to safeguard the sanctity of Tirumala and prevent any activities that could undermine its spiritual ambience. Officials informed him that such systems are already in vogue and further efforts will be made to secure the latest gadgets with improved technology. 

Highlighting the need for sustainable development, he directed authorities to adopt stringent measures to keep Tirumala pollution-free and explore the construction of additional temples to further promote devotional aspects. He noted the success of welfare initiatives such as Annadanam and Pranadanam, and urged the expansion of the latter to provide enhanced medical services to devotees.

Mr. Naidu also emphasised capacity building among volunteers engaged in temple services, advocating structured training programmes aligned with their skills and the optimal utilisation of their services across all temples administered by the TTD and called for the institutionalisation of best practices adopted by TTD as national benchmarks for temple management across the country. 

Earlier, officials made a detailed presentation on the Command and Control Centre’s capabilities, highlighting the use of artificial intelligence to forecast pilgrim footfall and optimise resource allocation. They also elaborated on integrated monitoring of laddu preparation, distribution and inventory management.

The initiative has received support from Non-Resident Indian donors through the Karya Foundation, with US-based philanthropist Vejendla Jayaprasad virtually briefing the Chief Minister on the services enabled by the Command and Control Centre.

Senior officials, including TTD Executive Officer Muddada Ravichandra, Additional EO Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary, Chief Vigilance and Security Officer and district police officials were present during the review.