Megastar Chiranjeevi’s formal political debut at the mega public meeting here on August 26 has created accommodation scarcity in the temple town.
Not fewer than 60,000 pilgrims from different parts of the country and even abroad turn up every day in Tirupati on pilgrimage to Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara. Hotels and lodges, and other commercial establishments in the town thrive mainly on the patronage of the pilgrims.
It has become particularly hard to find accommodation in Tirumala and at Tirumala during festivals and during consecutive holidays, and even during some weekends.
Tirupati being an educational hub and spiritual centre, the town witnesses a steady stream of scientists and scholars round the year. That being the situation in the normal days, it has now become harder in the past one week for pilgrims, the newlyweds and their relatives in particular, to find accommodation in any hotel or lodge thanks to the maiden public meeting on August 26 by politician Chiranjeevi.
Organisers at the Chiru camp have booked all available rooms in every lodge and hotel in Tirupati and its surroundings. Even the kalayanamandapams – TTD and private – have been booked in advance to accommodate the guests coming to attend the meeting.
"We have booked all available kalayanamandapams in Tirupati for allocation to party supporters," explains N V Prasad, film producer and politician, who is looking after the arrangements for the meeting.
With the meeting being just a couple of days away, preparations are on a fast track. Fans’ associations are busy planning erection of cutouts, posters and welcome arches for putting them at vantage points in the town.
With an estimated 10 lakh people to attend the public meeting, around 1,700 RTC buses are being booked from different places in the State. According to Chiranjeevi’s brotherin- law and advisor Allu Aravind, fans and supporters of Chiranjeevi are forming into groups and engaging special trains to Tirupati from different places in the State. Chiru fans have already booked 15 special trains, hundreds of private buses and 10,000-odd light vehicles to reach Tirupati.
"As per the information we have received at our call centre, which is coordinating the communication, 18 trains have been hired and the figure is likely to go up to 25,"he said.
As for the media arrangements, three coordinators have been appointed to look after, local, state and national mediapersons who will come to cover the event. A request for a full-fledged media centre at the meeting venue has been made to the organisers.
Crackers will be a strict no-no at the maiden public meeting of heroturned- politician Chiranjeevi at Tirupati on August 26. The organisers are swearing by safety and fans have been urged not to bring in firecrackers lest any mishap at the venue give the superstar’s detractors a chance to wag tongues.
Those coming in special trains will be ferried to the venue and to lodging facilities in buses from Renigunta railway station where the specials will terminate. Volunteers are arranging meals, snacks and water for those descending from various parts of the State.
For instance, a leader from West Godavari district has taken on the responsibility of distributing one lakh packets of lemon rice to the audience. Elaborate arrangements are also being made for parking of vehicles.
One lakh people are expected to come from Kadapa alone as it is the nearest district. Large numbers are expected from Nellore, which too is close to the temple town. The greatest number, understandably, will be from Chittoor district in which the town is sited.
Fans from neighbouring States are also expected. A good number of NRIs are already in the the State, visiting various places, before arriving in Tirupati on D day.
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