Barbed fencing for Tirumala:Sabitha

Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy on Saturday said the security around the Tirumala temple, the abode of Lord Venkateshwara, connecting the four mada streets, would be tightened with a barbed wire barricade.

The Home Minister, who came here on a two-day visit to the temple town along with her son Karthika Reddy by walk from Alipiri, reviewed the security set up with the top brass following the advice given by the Intelligence agencies.

After the review meeting, she announced that security around the outer ring corridor would be beefed up by deploying more people with latest gadgets. 

She said Greyhounds police would be deployed as part of efforts to strengthen the security in Tirumala and Tirupati. A special branch unit would be set up, particularly in Tirumala, to provide security to the temple round-the-clock along with Greyhounds police.

CCTV cameras and more luggage scanners would be installed to meet the rush of pilgrims on the temple premises, she pointed out.

Vigilance would be tightened on foot tracks that lead pilgrims to the temple. Security on Alipiri route would be tightened at a cost of Rs 9 crore, which will enable online checking of all vehicles going towards Tirumala, she added.

Tirumala Tirupathi Devastahanam chairman D K Audikesavulu Naidu, TTD Executive Officer I Y R Kirshna Rao and TTD Board members were also present in the meeting.

Earlier, she participated in the morning rituals and prayed for peace and prosperity of the state.