Ex-TTD Board Members Violating Tirumala Darshan Rules, Says Bhumana

Tirupati: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams trust board chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy came down heavily on some former board members for misusing the darshan privileges at Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala. Karunakar Reddy on Monday stated that though some former board members are permitted to have darshan of Tirumala Lord with wife, children and parents a few times in a year, some have been violating the rules by bringing in others apart from their immediate family members frequently. At the board meeting chaired by Bhumana in Tirumala, several key decisions were taken including the suspension of VIP break darshan on recommendation letters from March 15, in view of the model code of conduct being implemented across the country ahead of the general elections. Other key decisions included constructing of hostels for female students at TTD colleges, installing 10 new lifts at Pilgrims Amenities Complex-1 in Tirumala at a cost of Rs 1.88 crore, allotment of Rs 1.5 crore for setting up security fencing in outer cordon area of Sri Padmavati Rest House and Balaji Nagar East side areas, approving of Rs 14 crore for developing 184 staff quarters.