Govt to launch unified helpline for 22 major temples across AP

Vijayawada: Devotees visiting major temples in Andhra Pradesh will soon be able to access information on darshan, sevas, accommodation, temple timings and other services through a single, centralised platform, with the endowments department set to establish a pilgrim digital assistance and call centre for 22 major temples across the state.At present, devotees have to contact individual temples for information on festivals, darshan timings, accommodation, sevas, donations and other services. In the absence of a common platform, they often have to rely on separate phone numbers or websites of individual temples, making it difficult to obtain information or register complaints. The department also lacks a centralised mechanism to receive, monitor and follow up on grievances raised by devotees.Speaking to TOI, endowments commissioner K. Rama Chandra Mohan said the call centre would be launched soon and would provide devotees with a single point of contact for information and assistance. Initially, the facility will cover seven Joint Commissioner cadre temples and 15 Deputy Commissioner cadre temples. He added that instead of approaching different temples separately, devotees would be able to obtain information through one platform, making temple services more accessible and organised.

The call centre will provide information on temple festivals, darshan, sevas, accommodation, donations and online services, besides guiding devotees on digital bookings. It will also receive complaints, forward them to the concerned temple authorities and monitor their disposal through a centralised system.Alongside the helpline, the department will also establish a centralised social media campaign cell to promote temple festivals, religious programmes and pilgrim facilities through various digital platforms. Officials said the initiative is expected to improve awareness of temple events, strengthen digital services and enhance the overall experience of devotees visiting major temples across the state.