Tirumala, April 16: President Pratibha Patil is likely to visit the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara here on July 7 and inaugurate a state-of-the-art Annadanam complex, a comprehensive modern mechanised kitchencum- dining hall where 90,000 people can have food in a day.
Speaking to mediapersons, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams executive officer IYR Krishna Rao said that a communication in this regard was received from the President’s office.
Joint executive officer K Bhaskar said the modernised kitchen had Rs 5 crore worth of utensils exclusively made for Sri Vari Annadanam Trust. “Washing up of utensils, carrying the food material including the liquid items, making of roti, rice and other cooked items will be done by the machines even removing the pulp of vegetables will also be done by them,’’ he explained.
The total cost of the entire project is Rs 35 crore. Use of machines and preparation of food with the machines will be on a trial basis till the end of April.
The administration is thinking of centralising the luggage distribution system whereby pilgrims can deposit their luggage anywhere on Tirumala and collect it back from the centralised luggage centre near the temple after darshan.
–Agencies