The Andhra Pradesh government has appointed J. Shyamala Rao as the new Executive Officer (EO) of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). The order was issued by Chief Secretary Neerabh Kumar on Friday night. Shyamala Rao, a 1997 batch IAS officer, previously served as the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes when GST was implemented, where he was recognized for preventing technical issues and increasing state revenue. Currently, he is serving as the Principal Secretary of Higher Education. Known for his integrity, the government felt he was the right choice for the prestigious position at TTD.
With this new appointment, Dharma Reddy, who was serving as the in-charge EO, has been completely relieved from his duties. Dharma Reddy had taken leave shortly after the coalition government was formed in Andhra Pradesh. Following the transfer of the then-EO Jawahar Reddy in May 2022, Dharma Reddy was given the additional charge of EO. However, allegations of misconduct during the previous government led to the current administration deciding to relieve him of his duties.
Meanwhile, the influx of devotees in Tirumala has increased significantly, with all compartments filled and queue lines extending outside. It currently takes approximately 18 hours for Sarva Darshan without tokens. On Friday alone, 66,782 devotees visited the temple, contributing ₹3.71 crore to the Hundi revenue.