AP endowments dept pushes digital pilgrim services

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh endowments department on Tuesday held a high-level review meeting with executive officers of 22 major temples and stressed improving pilgrim services through expanded online and digital facilities.The meeting, held at the endowments department headquarters in Gollapudi, was chaired by ex-officio secretary M Hari Jawahar Lal and commissioner K Ramachandra Mohan. Hari Jawahar Lal said there should be no compromise on facilities provided to devotees at temples, which hold a unique spiritual and cultural place in the state. He directed officials to increase online services to ensure faster and easier access for devotees and asked temple authorities to introduce new Arjita sevas suited to changing requirements.Commissioner Ramachandra Mohan reviewed development and infrastructure measures across temples and instructed officials to adopt successful practices implemented at one temple across other shrines as well, in line with the chief minister’s directions. Officials were also directed to strengthen environmental and utility infrastructure, including rooftop rainwater harvesting, water recycling systems, solar power and bio-gas facilities. The commissioner asked authorities to complete installation of piped gas systems in temples within a month.