TIRUPATI, December 19, 2015
The Postal department recently opened a post office at Tirumala to exclusively deal with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
Apart from the existing two post offices on the hill town, the Tirumala Hills (non-delivery) post office was recently opened to cater exclusively to the TTD needs. In fact, the TTD-related communication was being despatched from the Tirupati Head Post Office downhill, which has now been moved to Tirumala for logistical convenience.
It may be noted that TTD is a major customer of postal service, as devotees send demand drafts, challans, applications for various sevas and even complaints by post. Under the TTD’s ‘Aseervachanam’ scheme, devotees contributing even Re.1 to the Lord’s coffers through money order are sent blessings in the form of ‘Akshintalu’ and the Lord’s pocket-size photo, which number around 1000-1500 a day. In spite of the technological advances, postal services continue to have a large share of the pie.
The department is getting ready to serve the devotees at the macro level by planning to launch a mix of operations at Tirumala. “More than 16,000 post offices are under Core Banking Solutions (CBS). We are contemplating to open India Post ATM and launch internet services at Tirumala,” says T.A.V. Sarma, Superintendent of Post Offices, Tirupati division. The department requires a larger chunk of land for these operations and hence looks to the TTD for the same.
Meanwhile, the TTD has given its nod for sale of calendars and diaries for 2016 through post offices. According to a release by Post Master-General (Kurnool region) Sanjiv Ranjan, the calendar and diary will be sold at Rs.90 and Rs.115 (inclusive of Rs.15 as service charge and service tax).
Special darsan tickets
India Post has entered into a tie-up with the TTD wherein special Rs. 300 darshan tickets will be issued in post offices to facilitate devotees from distant areas to plan hassle-free pilgrimage to the Lord of the Seven Hills, Mr. Sanjiv Ranjan said here.
India Post has also made arrangements to sell the TTD calendars and dairies in all the post offices in Kurnool region from December 21 onwards, the PMG said.
The Postal Department would act as a bridge between the devotee and the God and would deliver the calendars costing Rs. 75 each and dairies Rs. 100 each at the doorstep of the devotees with a minimal postal charge of Rs. 15 per publication inclusive of service tax, Mr. Sanjiv Ranjan said.
It would help the devotees who could not visit the Tirumala shrine due to physical disability or old age. The devotees can get the celestial framed photo of the Lord through the service, he added.
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