Now private firms and agencies are planning to implement Swachch Bharat on Tirumala Shrine apart from de-congesting the area.Situated in the Tirumala hills of Andhra Pradesh, it is one of the most visited places in India and probably the world. Shri Venkateshwara Temple receives around 65,000 pilgrims each day.
On occasions like Brahmotsavam this number rises to about 5 lakhs. Given its importance, the temple was selected as one of the 100 iconic sites in India as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship mission – the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan – to be cleaned up and international standards of cleanliness implemented.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam has dedicated itself to ensure this shrine stays spotless round the year. The major hurdle in doing so is making sure that the roads leading to the temple stays clean and safe.
With lakhs of visitors flocking in everyday, most touching base at Tirupati before driving off to Tirumala or trekking the seven hills to reach the temple town, it is this route that requires maximum attention.
“Any litter or waste that we find anywhere, we have to pick it up and discard. Cleaning is important to us” says Kalpana, a sweeper at the Tirupati Railway Station.
The workers who has been cleaning the bus stands and the nearby roads at the central bus station in Tirupati for 13 years, also understands the need for keeping the town clean. “It is important to clean this place as many pilgrims come here before going to the temple. We do it to ensure the town is healthy for them” she says.
However, with such high frequency of visitors, the town needs more than sweepers and cleaners for its sanitation goals. The Devasthanam has, thus, stepped in to fill the gaps.
“There are about 4,000 people who work day and night to keep the town clean” says Dr. Sambasiva Rao, the Executive Officer of the Tirumala – Tirupati Devasthanam. With private parties coming to clean Tirumala and Tirupathi, lets hope the area become more attractive for the pilgrims.
