Tirupati: Nira Radia, former corporate lobbyist and chairperson of Delhi-based Nayati Healthcare and Research, donated a brand-new electric bus to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Saturday.
Puja and Handover Ceremony
Nira Radia performed special pujas for the bus, valued at Rs 1.2 crore, near the Tirumala temple. She later handed over the bus to TTD chairman BR Naidu and additional EO C Venkaiah Chowdary on Saturday.
Free Bus Service for Devotees
Speaking to reporters, Venkaiah Chowdary stated that the new bus donated by Nira Radia will be used as a free bus to ferry devotees at Tirumala to their desired destinations across the hill town at no cost. He emphasized TTD's commitment to transitioning to electric mobility to preserve the sacred environs of Tirumala. Out of the 20 Dharmaradham (free) buses operated by TTD at Tirumala, 14 are now electric. These free buses run over 380 trips daily across 21 bus stops, ensuring convenience for visiting devotees.
Additional Donation of iPads
In addition to the bus, Nira Radia also donated 15 Apple iPads to the integrated command control centre at Tirumala on Saturday.
About the Author: Sandeep Raghavan is a seasoned Indian journalist and Principal Digital Content Creator for The Times of India in Andhra Pradesh's Rayalaseema region. He began his career in 2008 with Studio N, moved to Deccan Chronicle in 2013, and joined TOI in 2019. His expertise includes religion, politics, and crime, with notable knowledge of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
