TTD to replace conventional vehicles with EVs

Taxis and rental vehicles operating between Tirupati and Tirumala will also be encouraged to shift to electric vehicles.

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In a major initiative to preserve and enhance the sacred environs of Lord Venkateswara’s abode at Tirumala, the Tirupati trust has decided to replace all conventional vehicles operating between Tirumala and Tirupati with electric vehicles in a phased manner.Taking the first step, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) additional executive officer Ch Venkaiah Chowdary convened a meeting with senior consultants, officials from the Union ministry of road transport and highways, and APSRTC representatives on Friday.During the meeting, Chowdary outlined recent measures taken by TTD, including a 10-year action plan to increase forest cover at Tirumala from 32% in 2025 to 45% by 2035.”To further strengthen efforts to reduce pollution levels at Tirumala, which draws 2.5 crore devotees annually, the trust has decided to phase out all APSRTC buses running on conventional fuel and replace them with EV buses,” Chowdary said.

Similarly, taxis and rental vehicles operating between Tirupati and Tirumala will be encouraged to shift to electric vehicles.

Chowdary added that recommendations from consultants led by senior consultant Sunil Joshi will be placed before the next TTD trust board meeting, where orders will be passed to expedite the migration of TTD and state-run vehicles to EVs.TTD DFO Phani Kumar Naidu, Vigilance and Security Officer Surendra, and other officials were present.