The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) used an AI-driven Command and Control Centre to cut waiting times for devotees during the recent Vaikuntha Ekadasi celebrations. Despite record crowds, darshan went smoothly with no chaos or stampedes. On December 30, 2025, over 67,000 devotees had darshan, followed by 70,000 on the next day and 65,000 on January 1. Waiting time was cut to between 1.5 and 4 hours. The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), based at Vaikuntham Queue Complex-1, uses more than 300 CCTV cameras and 42 facial-recognition cameras. It creates a real-time 3D view of crowd movement. When crowds in one area cross 500, the system alerts officials by turning the zone red, enabling quick action. Green and yellow zones show smooth flow and manageable crowds. The AI system works closely with the pre-booked time-slotted darshan to coordinate entry and exit efficiently. TTD Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary told The Hindu, "The success of the initiative during Vaikuntha Ekadasi encouraged the temple administration to extend the same AI-backed system to Sarva Darshan devotees from January 2." TTD plans to roll out similar tech at laddu counters and other busy spots. The system was inaugurated during the 2025 Brahmotsavams by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as part of modernising temple management without losing spiritual sanctity. This successful experiment makes Tirumala a shining example of how ancient pilgrimage centres can use smart technology to improve the experience for millions of devotees while preserving tradition.