Tirupati Temple. Image credit: The Financial Express

Protocols for devotees visiting the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) have been altered in the wake of coronavirus outbreak across the globe.

In a statement issued to the media, the TTD managing committee said that from Tuesday pilgrims will not be required wait in serpentine queues as time-slot tokens will be issued for paying obeisance at the temple.

The step has been initiated after the Andhra Pradesh government urged the TTD authorities to initiate steps to check coronavirus outbreak.

As per the revised protocol, the devotees will not be allowed to sit in the compartments of queue complexes and this has been done to avoid person-to-person contact.

Authorities informed that under the given time slots, the pilgrims will be allowed to pay obeisance but the numbers will be limited.

The devotees will have to bring an ID like AADHAAR, Voter ID, or driving licence along with them to get the time-slot tokens for visit.

Authorities further informed that special counters will be set up in Tirumala and Tirupati to issue the tokens.