The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, has on Thursday decided to refund the special entry darshan fees of Rs 300 (collected per head), advance fees paid for Arjitha Seva tickets…., Deccan Herald has reported.

Tirumala: The Tirupati temple authorities are making exception to their no refund rules for ticket cancellation for the first time, to avoid the Covid-19 threat to the hill shrine.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, has on Thursday decided to refund the special entry darshan fees of Rs 300 (collected per head), advance fees paid for Arjitha Seva tickets and for accommodation in Tirupati, Tirumala, if the pilgrims “postpone their date of darshan or cancel the tickets till May 2020 in view of the Corona Virus threat.”

As per the rules, the TTD, which administers the Lord Venkateswara temple, does not refund such payments when the devotees cancel their plans.

On normal days,Tirumala Temple usually witnesses about 75 thousand devotees inside the temple and near about one lakh on festive days.

Earlier this week, TTD has urged NRI devotees arriving from overseas and foreigners not to visit the hill shrine for 28 days from the day they land in India. It also appealed to the domestic devotees to reschedule their pilgrimage if they are suffering from cough, cold and fever.

To spread awareness among Tirumala visiting pilgrims and to educate them on safety measures to prevent Covid 19 spread, TTD is opening three awareness and counselling camps at Alipiri, Srivari Mettu footpath routes and at the Alipiri Toll Gate from From Friday, said AEO.

Image Source: Wikipedia