Garudotsavam on Friday

Tirumala, Sept 23 :

 The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) chairman, Mr D K Adikeshavulu Naidu on Wednesday said that all arrangements  were made for the successful conduct of the Garudotsavam, the most unique of the Vahana seva of Lord Venkateswara on Friday.

Addressing  a  press conference after a review of the  arrangements with the District Collector and Police  Superintendent,  the TTD chairman said in view of last years  experience, foolproof  traffic and crowd movement arrangements have been made and barricades have been set up around the four Mada streets. A record crowd of seven lakhs attended the Garudotsavam in Brahmotsavam of 2008.

 “We anticipate almost 10 lakhs visitors  this year  and have made arrangements --drinking water, free meals, laddu pradadam, medicare, security and accommodation,” he said. Special Officer A V Dharma Reddy explained mobile toilets and piped drinking water arrangements have been made all around the gallery. Executive Officer I Y R Krishna Rao said special teams have been set up to screen suspects for swine flu at the Vaikuntam  complex, besides special masks, tamiflu tablets and isolation wards  for treating emergencies cases of swine flu.

Police Superintendent Lakshmi Reddy said four platoons of APSP besides other 2,000 civil force and another 1,500 police reserve  on the Garudotsavam day. “We have made special traffic regulations and cark parking arrangements for smooth conduct of Garudotsavam,” said the Police official. Dharma Reddy said a special review meeting of all RDO’s and DSP’s will be held on Thursday for Garudotsavam arrangements.