VIP Break Darshan Likely Cancelled in Tirumala

In view of the heavy influx of devotees during the summer season, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is planning major changes to its darshan system. From May 1, VIP break darshans and Slotted Sarva Darshan (SSD) tokens may be cancelled, with a Vaikunta Ekadasi-style system likely to be implemented. Officials are analyzing data from the past three summers, which show an average of 23–24 lakh devotees visiting Tirumala each month during May, June, and July.

Currently, 2–3 hours are allocated daily for VIP darshans, allowing only about 3,800 VIPs. If this time is given to common devotees, around 15,000 people can benefit. Authorities estimate that waiting time could reduce from 22–23 hours to 8–12 hours under the new system, enabling darshan for nearly 80,000 devotees per day.