Tirumala Tirumathi Devasthanam's Administrative Board Chairman Adikesavulu Naidu, on Monday, called on Forest Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy at the Secretariat.
The meeting assumed importance in the wake of 2 leopard attacks on children in a week on the Tirumala footpath.
The TTD Chairman said that henceforth pilgrims would be stopped from using the footpath after 4pm, till 6am. The restrictions would be implemented for one week, on a trial basis.
Minister Ramchandra Reddy promised the TTD chairman that he, along with Forest Department officials, would undertake an aerial survey to try and identify places from where wild animals are venturing onto the road, and would then work on steps to plug the loopholes.
The meeting also discussed the proposal to shift the deer park in Tirumala to Nellore or Idupulapaya. The National Zoological Authority has already given permission to shift the deer park to any place in the state.
Earlier, after an emergency meeting with the officials of TTD and the Forest Department, TTD Executive Officer I Y R Krishna Rao stated that all steps have been taken to protect pilgrims travelling on foot from wild animal attacks.
He said security would be strengthened on the route to prevent wild animals from attacking pilgrims.
He said the pilgrims would be allowed on the Tirumala Footpath — Alipiri to Tirumala — only from 6am to 4pm, for one week, with effect from Monday.
He also appealed to parents not to leave their wards alone while trekking to Tirumala on foot.
The forest officials have deployed a special team with tranquilizer darts at the spot where wild animals had twice attacked children, as a precautionary step.
Nearly 20,000 devotees visit Tirumala on foot to have the darshan of the Lord after TTD established the special darshan counter for the benefit of footpath pilgrims.