In what is seen as a commercial proposition, the TTD administration hiked the rates of Lord Venkateswara Prasadams abnormally with immediate effect from today.
Citing the hike in production cost, the officials raised the cost of Jilebi from Rs.25 to Rs.70, Vada from Rs 4 to Rs.25 and Muruku from Rs. 4 to Rs.30. However, the most liked and sought after Prasadam ‘laddu’ was exempted from the hike. Small laddu continues to be available at the present rate of Rs.25 and that of the big laddu remains on Rs.100.
Devotees of Lord Venkateswara reacted adversely to the hike of prasadam rates and majority of them did not approve of the decision.  They say that TTD gets an income of Rs.1.7 Cr to Rs.2 Cr a day through Hundi offerings only and there is no need for the administration to hike the rates. However, officials defended their decision saying that the hike was long over due and necessitated following the abnormal increase of material used in the making of prasadams.