In a major tech upgrade aimed at improving the pilgrimage experience, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the iconic Venkateswara temple, is introducing facial recognition and artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
The TTD board has also approved the deployment of anti-drone technology to enhance security around the temple, officials said on Thursday.
TTD Executive Officer J Syamala Rao said these advanced technologies will help authenticate pilgrims, streamline darshan processes, and prevent impersonation and booking fraud.
The AI-backed system will also improve accommodation allocation, access control, and various operational aspects of the temple.
“TTD has envisioned adopting the most advanced technologies available, including AI, to improve the overall pilgrimage experience,” Rao said in a press release.
As part of this initiative, pilgrims will receive time-slotted darshan tokens embedded with facial recognition data. Images captured during the process will be matched against a database of over 1 million images from the past 30 days to detect and prevent duplicate bookings.
“This approach ensures faster and hassle-free token verification while effectively eliminating impersonation and fraudulent activities,” Rao added.
Facial recognition will also be used to monitor pilgrim movement in key zones such as queue lines, holding compartments, and temple interiors.
AI-powered cameras will enable real-time facial detection and movement tracking, allowing temple authorities to better manage crowd flow.
“The system helps TTD accurately estimate expected darshan times for pilgrims in queues and provides real-time updates for those just joining, enabling them to plan better,” Rao explained.
The technology will also allow officials to forecast darshan completion times for various categories and identify any operational inefficiencies.
Additionally, facial recognition will be used to identify and track intruders within the Tirumala area, further boosting security.
Looking ahead, Rao said the TTD plans to expand facial recognition across all its service offerings to ensure greater transparency, efficiency, and convenience for devotees.
