Security at Tirumala Hills: AP DGP Harish Kumar, TTD EO Syamala Rao review defence framework

Tirumala: With heightened national security concerns and increasing pilgrim footfall, Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta and TTD Executive Officer (EO) J Syamala Rao held a high-level security review in Tirumala on Friday, aiming to reinforce safety measures at one of India’s most visited spiritual destinations.

The strategic meeting, conducted at Annamayya Bhavan, focused on developing an integrated and advanced security framework to protect the lakhs of devotees who visit the temple daily.

The session opened with a detailed presentation by Tirupati SP and TTD in-charge Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (CVSO) Harshavardhan Raju, who outlined the current security setup and proposed enhancements.

Strict coordination between security wings

DGP Harish Kumar Gupta emphasised the global spiritual and cultural importance of Tirumala and the urgent need for a comprehensive, multi-agency security strategy. He recommended coordination between APSP, DAR, SPF, home guards, civil police, and TTD’s own security forces, along with the formation of a Disaster Management Team for emergency response.

He also called for the adoption of a unified Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and discussed advanced initiatives such as multi-layered vehicle screening at Alipiri, sensor-based surveillance in collaboration with defence agencies, modern security tech deployment, and cybersecurity upgrades.

TTD EO Syamala Rao echoed the need for a synchronised approach among all security agencies and stressed the importance of fortifying cyber infrastructure. He expressed satisfaction with the review and the steps being proposed for the safety of pilgrims and staff.