Latest news with #Chowdary
Indian Express
a day ago
- Automotive
- Indian Express
Tirupati temple trust increases its free bus fleet, plans security revamp
As the number of pilgrims visiting Tirumala steadily climbs, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Thursday increased its free bus services for devotees within the temple town. The trust has also been planning to overhaul its security infrastructure, especially at the checkpoint near the Sri Venkateswara Temple. On June 15, the temple saw a peak footfall of 90,815 pilgrims, with the waiting time for darshan extending to approximately 18 hours. Flagging off a fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses operated by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), TTD Additional Executive Officer (EO) C Venkaiah Chowdary said the initiative aims to address both environmental and financial concerns. 'Devotees can travel in these buses free of cost to various destinations within Tirumala. The service has been launched to curb the high fares charged by private operators and to reduce pollution,' Chowdary said at the launch event at Ashwini Hospital Circle. Officials said that most private vehicles operating in Tirumala are diesel-run jeeps, which not only charge exorbitant fares to ferry devotees to other temples and tourist spots but also contribute significantly to pollution. The initiative has an added goal of discouraging the entry of diesel vehicles into the hill town. Until now, TTD operated a limited fleet of free CNG buses under the 'Srivari Dharma Rathas' service, running approximately 300 trips daily on designated routes. However, these did not cover all of Tirumala. The APSRTC buses will now run parallel to the existing service, with a bus available every two minutes, which is down from a wait time of eight minutes, officials said. In a separate development, TTD is preparing to revamp its security infrastructure in anticipation of a further rise in daily footfall, which is expected to cross one lakh pilgrims in the near future. TTD Executive Officer J Syamala Rao and Additional EO Chowdary held a review meeting Thursday to discuss plans to modernise the Alipiri Check Point, where all vehicles, luggage, and pilgrims are screened before proceeding up the hill. Currently, the checkpoint operates with a basic security setup. Officials said TTD now wants state-of-the-art scanning systems and faster checks to reduce congestion. RAXA Security Solutions, a GMR Group company, made a presentation on its suggestions to upgrade the checkpoint. The EO asked the firm to propose both short- and long-term solutions to accommodate increasing crowds. While a final contract is yet to be awarded, the EO has directed TTD's Vigilance Wing to begin some immediate measures. These include installing physical barriers to prevent people from bypassing the check while personnel are busy with others, and replacing the existing luggage scanners with rugged, high-capacity ones. The number of scanners will be increased, and authorities will explore the feasibility of extending the luggage conveyor belts to speed up the process. Additional security personnel will also be posted to activate two currently unused lanes at the checkpoint. Meanwhile, TTD has proposed to the Ministry of Civil Aviation that the Renigunta airport near Tirupati be renamed as Sri Venkateswara International Airport. TTD Chairman B R Naidu said that he wants the airport to 'reflect Tirumala's spiritual aesthetics'.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
AP GST staff take up frequent transfers with Chief Commissioner
AP GST officers and Employees Association's State Honorary President Chowdary Purushottam Naidu said on Monday that Chief Commissioner A. Babu responded positively to the association's concerns regarding the frequent transfers of staff in the department. Accompanied by APNGOs Association State President A. Vidya Sagar and General Secretary D.V. Ramana, Mr. Chowdary submitted a detailed memorandum to Mr. Babu at his office in Amaravati. They delegation highlighted that almost all officials and employees were being transferred frequently as their 'station seniority' was taken into consideration instead of their jurisdiction and responsibilities. Mr. Chowdary explained that though many officers and staff operate from the same office, they are assigned for GST collection responsibilities to far off locations. 'Mr. Babu understood the issues raised by the association and assured to bring our grievances to the notice of the higher authorities to avoid frequent transfers,' said the Association President, Allina Ramesh Kumar, Associate President, Rayi Venugopal, General Secretary, Chintala Kalyan. Women wing representative, M. Rajya Lakshmi, hoped that the government would make necessary changes for the General Transfer Guidelines-2025 in accordance to the requirements of the GST department.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Plans afoot to plant 2 lakh saplings in coordination with forest department, says TTD Addl. EO
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary on Thursday said that the TTD is implementing a comprehensive strategy to increase the green cover in Tirumala to 80% as part of the World Environment Day celebrations. Speaking to the media after planting a sapling of Ficus Bengalensis (Banyan-Marri) in the premises of Octopus building, he said that over 2,000 saplings are being planted in various parts atop the temple town as part of the green initiative. Highlighting the ecological importance of each tree in Tirumala, Mr. Chowdary stated that the TTD is discouraging the planting of foreign species that could harm native flora. 'We have identified 40 native plant species through detailed research and the focus is on planting them to preserve the region's natural biodiversity.'' Emphasising the TTD's commitment to environmental conservation, Mr. Chowdary noted that the management has already banned the use of plastic in the temple town and further steps are in the offing to make the town plastic-free. Despite the ban, devotees often bring plastic items and throw them out of vehicle windows along the ghat roads, he said and underlined the need to create more awareness and stepping up monitoring at the Alipiri checkpoint. He also announced the temple administration's ambitious plans to plant an additional 2,00,000 saplings in coordination with the Forest Department in the days to come. The event among others was attended by Deputy Conservator of Forests Srinivasulu, Deputy EO Somanna Rayana and EE Sudhakar.
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- The Hindu
TTD official warns against circulating ‘misleading' video clips on social media
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary on Saturday cautioned against individuals attempting to provoke devotees or record misleading videos within the darshan queue lines. He warned of strict legal action against such unauthorised persons who attempt to disrupt the sanctity of the darshan process. The warning comes against the backdrop of an incident that took place late on Friday night when a few devotees who grew restive in the darshan lines allegedly resorted to sloganeering against the TTD. A video clip about the incident went viral on social media platforms, much to the embarrassment of the officials. Taking strong exception to the circulation of the video clip, Mr. Chowdary warned the social media users to refrain from the actions and speeches that would hurt the sentiments of the devotees. Addressing the media after inspecting the darshan lines and supervising the distribution of food and beverages to the pilgrims waiting in the darshan lines that extended to several kilometres outside the Vaikuntam Complex, he said that a devotee who reportedly did not receive free food was responsible for the 'ruckus'. He said that the devotee was not only unwell but also unaware of the crowd control measures in place by the TTD. 'Later, the devotee regretted his action and apologised for his unwanted behavior,' Mr. Chowdary said. Underlining the commitment of the TTD workforce, which is working tirelessly round-the-clock to ensure a hassle-free darshan to the pilgrims, he said that the pilgrims will always remain a priority for the TTD. He reiterated that it was to their advantage that the management had slashed the time provided for VIPs and the much privileged Srivani ticket holders.
Boston Globe
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Don't Tell Aunty is worth talking about
The backstory : Don't Tell Aunty is the latest from the Flying Lion hospitality group, which runs Seaport restaurants such as Madras Dosa Co. and Nowon. This is in a quieter area, occupying a sleepy corner of Boylston Street where many hungry symphony-goers have lamented a lack of dining options. Don't Tell Aunty offers Indian small plates. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff 'We fell in love with the location. We thought the neighborhood could use something like this. The building is owned by Berklee College of Music, so we have a live music element. We love how we can integrate the community into the space, and give students an opportunity to have a stage and practice their craft,' says co-owner Sruthi Chowdary, who operates the restaurant with Babu Koganti. But what's with the name? Advertisement 'Aunty is a very fun play on how we were raised back home. There's a funny thing, or a sarcastic thing, that aunties are always on the watch,' says Chowdary, who grew up in Vijayawada, in southeastern India. 'Everyone is so into each other's business, but also in an endearing way.' Masala fries at Don't Tell Aunty. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff What to eat : Fusion cuisine with a southern Indian lilt. 'A lot of Indian food on the Western side of the world is from the northern part of India. We never found food that felt like home for us, and that's what brought us into this industry —sharing what Indian food means to us. It's not always chicken tikka masala,' Chowdary says. Advertisement Instead, it's croquettes stuffed with butter chicken in chili oil; saucy tater tots with mint, tamarind, yogurt, and onion sauces; nacho-style kale fritters, similarly sauced; paratha bread coated in a spicy Bolognese sauce — all exceedingly grazable, designed for sharing (and perhaps overordering) after a few drinks as the music reverberates and the lights get lower. The bar at Don't Tell Aunty. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff The runaway hit, though, is something simpler: avakaya hummus, made with spicy pickled mango: an exemplary fusion treat. 'Aunts and grandmothers sit together and make huge jars every summer, when the fruit is in season, and it lasts throughout the year. It's a yearly ritual at home for us. And everyone loves hummus in America,' she says. Prices are affordable, with most offerings under $20, befitting the college-adjacent locale. The Bollywood Swingin' cocktail. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff What to drink : The backlit bar has Miami vibes, all pink and palm trees; cocktails ($15 and up) are playful but potent: a Spicy Lil' Auntie is their twist on a margarita, with mango and jalapeno; Curry Tales is a martini, sort of, with vodka, vermouth, and curry brine. Take it slow. The takeaway : A spicy mix of nightlife and creative small plates, worth telling your aunties — or at least your college roommates — about. 1080 Boylston St., Boston, 617-982-6152, The lamb ghee roast dish at Don't Tell Aunty. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Kara Baskin can be reached at
