TTD exploring AI-enabled facial cameras to improve pilgrimage experience at Tirumala temple

Hyderabad: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is exploring the implementation of AI-enabled facial recognition (FR) cameras and other technological solutions to enhance the overall pilgrimage experience at one of Hindu's most revered shrines.

The Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala, recognized as one of the richest Hindu temples globally, attracts between 70,000 and 80,000 pilgrims daily, with numbers swelling beyond one lakh on special occasions. Securing a darshan ticket for the temple's presiding deity is considered a prized possession for many Hindus worldwide.

"TTD envisioned adopting the latest technological solutions available in the market, including Artificial Intelligence, to improve the overall pilgrimage experience. Several activities are being explored to check their feasibility and adoptability," said a senior TTD official.

The proposed system would provide pilgrims with time-slotted Sarva Darshan tokens by capturing their Facial Recognition (FR) data on the fly. The pilgrim's FR data will be validated against 30 days of stored information approximately 10 lakh records to eliminate duplicate bookings and serve more pilgrims effectively.

"Pilgrims will be validated using Facial Detection through 1:N solutions, where they will be verified against their FR data captured during token issuance. If found valid and genuine, the pilgrim will be allowed to avail the eligible service," the official explained.

The implementation of this solution promises several benefits. The token issuance and verification process would become quick and hassle-free, while impersonation and fraudulent activities could be eliminated. This Facial Recognition and Detection technology would extend to all applicable services, including accommodation and access controls.

The system would also enable real-time crowd management through pilgrim counting at various locations such as queue lines, compartments, and inside the Sri Tirumala Temple using AI-enabled FR cameras. This capability would allow TTD management to accurately assess probable darshan waiting times for pilgrims in queues and provide reliable time estimates for new arrivals.

"Pilgrims can be well-notified about expected darshan times, especially Sarva Darshan pilgrims, for better pilgrimage planning. With AI-based FR cameras installed across darshan paths, TTD can determine the time taken to complete darshan for different categories of pilgrims," the official added.

This data will help TTD understand whether desired services are being provided effectively and identify operational gaps. Additionally, the AI-based FR cameras will enable TTD to identify and track intruders across Tirumala, providing quick identification with accurate location information.

These technological solutions are currently under Proof of Concept evaluation through various service providers.