TTD dismisses rumours over SRIVANI darshan tickets, says booking system cannot be hacked
Tirumala, May 13 (TNT): Amid reports and social media posts alleging irregularities in the booking of SRIVANI Trust darshan tickets, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Wednesday clarified that its online booking system was secure and urged devotees not to rely on rumours or approach middlemen for tickets.
In a statement, TTD, while explaining the functioning of the SRIVANI ticket booking mechanism, said the online system, introduced in May 2019, had undergone major technological upgrades from June 2024 onwards to ensure greater transparency, security and convenience for devotees seeking darshan at Tirumala Venkateswara Temple.
The updated booking mechanism was designed to provide transparent and secure services to devotees and the system could not be hacked or intruded upon under any circumstances, it clarified.
The temple body, however, stated that some brokers were attempting to misuse advanced technologies such as AI-based auto-filling and auto-copying tools to rapidly enter details and secure tickets.
It said its technical team was continuously monitoring suspicious activities, identifying illegal booking methods and related IDs, and immediately blocking such attempts.
The software was also being updated regularly to further strengthen security measures, officials added.
The organisation also warned devotees against middlemen allegedly misleading pilgrims and selling fake tickets, stating that strict action was being taken against such persons.
Explaining the booking process, TTD said the advance reservation software functions strictly on a “first come, first served” basis.
In cases where bookings fail or payment gateway transactions are unsuccessful, the tickets automatically become available again for other devotees.
TTD once again appealed to devotees to book tickets only through the official TTD website and advised them not to trust brokers or intermediaries for darshan bookings.
Meanwhile, a devotee recently lodged a complaint with the One Town Police alleging that a Chennai-based private travel operator had collected an additional ₹3,000 for each ticket provided to them.
Police immediately launched an investigation into the matter and reportedly formed special teams to trace and apprehend those involved in the alleged illegal ticketing racket.
TNT LE
