J Syamala Rao IAS assumes charge as the new TTD EO, vows to improve pilgrim services and transparency

TIRUPATI: J Syamala Rao IAS assumed charge as the new executive officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams on Sunday.
He was administered oath inside the Tirumala temple as per the customary practice earlier in the day.
Outgoing TTD EO (FAC) AV Dharma Reddy formally handed over the charge to new EO J Syamala Rao, and the latter addressed his maiden press conference at Sri Padmavathi guest house at Tirumala.
Speaking to reporters later, the new TTD EO stated that streamlining pilgrim services would be his top most priority.
"Tirumala is a world renowned pilgrim shrine visited by millions of devotees from across the globe. Providing a hassle free darshan, comfortable stay along with rendering various other pilgrim services in order to leave a lifetime and a memorable pilgrimage experience to the devotees will be our top most responsibility", Syamala Rao underlined.
Underlining that ensuring transparency and accountability at all levels of administration will be the other area of focus, the new TTD EO clarified that while it remains unclear as to why the previous TTD administration failed to upload the TTD board resolutions in a transparent manner on its official website, Syamala Rao assured that henceforth every resolution passed by the TTD trust board will be uploaded on the TTD website as every pilgrim has the right to know about every decision and resolution of the temple trust.
Meanwhile, amidst an unprecedented pilgrim rush continuing st Tirumala on Sunday as well, the new TTD EO inspected the queue lines and interacted with pilgrims for more than three hours in the evening.
Syamala Rao expressed his anger over the quality of water being supplied to the devotees and sanitation standards being maintained at the queue lines. He warned the water works and health departments of the TTD to ensure the best of amenities are provided to the devotees.