The New Indian Express ·
TTD puts cap on number of private vehicles on hills
TIRUMALA: In a historic first, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, in coordination with the Tirupati police and TTD Vigilance Wing, has implemented a strict traffic regulation protocol to cap the overwhelming influx of private vehicles travelling up to the hills.
The unprecedented intervention sets a daily threshold permitting a maximum of 10,000 to 15,000 private vehicles to ascend the Tirumala ghat roads.
Once this cap is reached, all remaining private vehicular traffic will be halted at the Alipiri checkpoint at the foothills. To prevent inconvenience to pilgrims, the administration has structured a seamless doorstep public transit mechanism, guiding them directly into designated foothill parking bays.
Use public transport to Tirumala, pilgrims urged
APSRTC has been mandated to deploy dedicated buses right at the doorstep of these parking bays, with instructions to keep at least two to five buses on standby at any given moment for immediate boarding.
The joint enforcement team of TTD Vigilance and police noted that this intervention—implemented for the first time at the Alipiri bay—is aimed at permanently resolving severe hilltop gridlocks, reducing pollution, and prioritising pedestrian safety around the temple precinct.
The administration has issued a formal advisory strongly urging all visiting pilgrims to park their private vehicles at Tirupati, and utilise public transport systems to proceed to Tirumala.
Alongside physical traffic regulation, TTD Vigilance and the Tirupati District Police, under the leadership of SP L Subbarayudu, have intensified a widespread enforcement drive against cyber criminals and fraudulent online networks exploiting pilgrims’ faith.
Through a dedicated monitoring framework operated alongside the Tirupati Cyber Crime Police, authorities have identified and legally shut down between 250 and 350 fake websites, URLs, mimic domains, and unauthorised social media handles over recent enforcement cycles. The clampdown targets syndicates offering fake “Lifetime VIP Break Darshan”, unauthorised accommodation, and illicit ticket sales through deceptive sites.
Officials have also targeted unauthorised WhatsApp groups, illegal promotional reels, and social media pages—including handlers operating under names like “Shravan Kala”—resulting in multiple arrests for running multi-state UPI booking scams.
All official bookings for darshan, sevas, and accommodation must be conducted exclusively through the official portal (ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in) or the official TTD mobile app. Pilgrims encountering suspicious individuals are urged to report them immediately to the TTD Vigilance Command Control Centre at 9866898630 or via the national emergency helpline at 112.
