TTD boosts tirumala with ai and upgrades

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams governing council has greenlit a hefty Rs 772 crore to overhaul 6,282 rooms in Tirumala, promising plush stays for devotees, VIPs included. Chairman BR Naidu and executive officer J Shyamala Rao unveiled the plan at Annamayya Bhavan, tagging it to a Rs 5,258.68 crore budget for 2025-26—up Rs 78.83 crore from last year—while board heavyweights like Suchitra Ella and Jyothula Nehru nodded along.

AI’s the new star—Google’s pitching tech to slash darshan wait times, blending speed with the sacred for the millions flocking to Srivari’s feet. The council’s also eyeing a 5:30 am VIP break darshan shift to ease the crush for regular folks, plus online and offline ticket tweaks for the elderly and differently-abled. A Tirupati vendor might hum, eyeing smoother crowds and fatter sales.

Temple turf’s getting a shake-up—35.25 acres near Edukondalu and 15 acres from tourism are back in TTD’s hands, with swaps offered elsewhere, and Science City’s plot is toast. Srivari temples will sprout in state capitals and abroad, fueled by a new trust and CM pleas, while a grand build’s set for Kodangal. TTD’s cracking down too—Srinivasa Seva Samiti’s out for shoddy supplies, 25,500 darshan coupons axed, and the Agama council’s getting a five-man reboot.