The Lord Venkateswara temple atop Tirumala may soon have its exclusive 'pilgrim police' for the devotees, if things go according to plan.
According to the Times of India, the Tirupati Urban District Police are considering pilgrim policing atop the Tirumala in a bid to provide better security for the devotees.
Sabarimala in Kerala has already implemented pilgrim policing successfully, during the annual festivals of Mandala Puja and Makar Sankranti.
Thousands of people throng to the temple in Tirupati everyday, and it is considered one of the holiest Hindu temples in the world.
Special vigilance and task force teams are currently responsible for providing security to the pilgrims.
"We are studying the pilgrim policing model in Sabarimala....We will replicate the model here. A few changes might be introduced to suit the local needs in Tirumala.We will take a decision soon," Tirupati SP (Urban) Gopinath Jetti told TOI.
The pilgrim police besides taking over security, also plan to keep a check on middlemen, to avoid exploitation of pilgrims in the temple.
The district police have not yet decided whether to set up separate police stations, or open special help desks at existing stations, the report adds.
A proposal will be sent to the state government for clearance soon.