TTD to use AI, facial recognition technology

Tirupati

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the famous Venkateswara temple, is planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and facial recognition technology to improve the experience for pilgrims, an official said Thursday. TTD’s Executive Officer, J Syamala Rao, explained that these technologies will help verify genuine pilgrims, prevent impersonation and fraud, and make processes like accommodation and access control easier.

Pilgrims will receive time-slotted darshan tokens linked to their facial data. Using facial recognition, TTD will check this data against a large database of recent images to stop duplicate bookings, allowing more pilgrims to visit smoothly. This technology will speed up token issuing and verification, while also preventing fake bookings.

AI and facial recognition cameras will track crowd numbers at various points like queues and inside the temple. This will help TTD estimate darshan wait times and inform pilgrims, allowing them to plan better. The system will also detect intruders at specific locations within Tirumala.

Rao said the technology will improve overall management by identifying delays or issues in darshan operations. Eventually, TTD plans to apply facial recognition across all its services to enhance security and convenience for pilgrims. This step shows TTD’s commitment to adopting advanced technology to create a safer and more efficient pilgrimage experience.