Indian Temple Launches AI Facial Recognition System to Streamline Visitor Access

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has unveiled a pilot project that will implement artificial intelligence-powered facial recognition technology to manage darshan (deity viewing) at the Srivari temple. The system aims to enable devotees to complete their darshan of Lord Venkateswara within one hour, marking a significant advancement in how one of India’s busiest temples manages its estimated 50,000 to 100,000 daily visitors.

The new system will generate time slots based on devotees’ Aadhaar card details and provide face recognition slips specifying darshan timing. Upon arrival at the queue, devotees’ identities will be verified through facial recognition software for seamless entry. The integration with Aadhaar, India’s biometric national ID system, supports the government’s broader efforts to incorporate facial recognition into citizen services.

TTD is establishing 45 AI-monitored counters to reduce the need for manual staff intervention. Four international firms have expressed interest in providing the AI software for this initiative. The pilot project will undergo a week-long testing phase to evaluate its feasibility, after which the proposal will be presented at the TTD Board meeting on December 24 for approval.

The system will implement facial scanning at 20 strategic locations, including the railway station, bus stand, and Alipiri. After scanning, devotees will receive allocated time slots and must join the queue within an hour of their assigned time. The distributed approach aims to prevent bottlenecks and manage crowd flow more effectively throughout the temple complex.

TTD Chairman BR Naidu indicated that the initiative draws inspiration from the Digi Yatra system currently used at Indian airports, which has successfully streamlined passenger processing through biometric verification. The implementation also aims to regulate Very Important Person (VIP) access and address issues related to black ticketing and tout interference, similar to how facial recognition has been deployed in other controlled-access venues.

The facial recognition system represents part of the temple administration’s broader efforts to integrate technology for improving the devotee experience. The initiative follows a growing trend in India of implementing biometric solutions in public spaces, though it marks one of the first major deployments at a religious site. The pilot program will evaluate the system’s effectiveness in managing the substantial daily flow of visitors to one of India’s most visited religious sites while maintaining the sanctity and security of the temple environment.

Sources: The New Indian Express, Indian Express, AP7AM, The New Indian Express-Vishakapatnam

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December 25, 2024 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team