No More Touts at Tirumala

TTD to unleash Aadhaar Face Recognition 

metro india news  I amaravati

In a decisive move to eliminate the long-standing menace of middlemen and fraudulent bookings, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is preparing to introduce advanced Aadhaar-linked face recognition systems for darshan, accommodation, and arjitha sevas. The initiative is aimed at ensuring complete transparency and preventing identity misuse in one of the country’s most visited pilgrimage centres.

Despite Aadhaar being mandatory for bookings, TTD officials have found that touts have been manipulating identity details through document morphing and impersonation. To address this, TTD is now planning to integrate facial recognition technology with Aadhaar authentication, creating a robust verification mechanism that links the devotee’s physical identity with official records.

As part of this effort, TTD has initiated collaboration with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Recent discussions between both entities have yielded positive outcomes, with UIDAI giving in-principle approval for providing authentication services. TTD will now register as an Authentication User Agency (AUA), for which it is expected to pay approximately ₹20 lakh for a two-year period. Additionally, nominal charges will apply for each authentication and e-KYC transaction.

However, the rollout of this system requires a formal notification from the Andhra Pradesh government, as per central regulations governing Aadhaar services. Sources indicate that TTD has already approached the state government, and the required approvals are likely to be issued soon.

Officials believe that once implemented, the system will effectively eliminate the role of intermediaries, ensuring that only genuine devotees access services. The move is also expected to streamline crowd management and improve overall pilgrim experience through faster and more secure verification.

Significantly, the Andhra Pradesh government is now considering extending similar technology-driven reforms to other major temples across the state. With temples like Srisailam, Simhachalam, and Kanaka Durga witnessing heavy footfall, authorities are exploring the introduction of Aadhaar-based authentication and facial recognition systems to standardise operations and prevent malpractices.