Tirumala, July 2, 2013: Works relating to making of a new golden chariot by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) are in full swing.

The TTD management, which has got the wooden frame work of the chariot readied at Tirupati along with the required copper sheet, has now been focussing on the crucial aspect of providing gold mallam (coating) to the chariot.

After debating about security issues at length, the management has decided to take up the gold coating works at its highly-secured SV Museum at Tirumala. The works are expected to kick start from July 20.

When contacted by The Hindu , the TTDs Chief Engineer Chandrasekhar Reddy said that the unification of various units of the chariot can only be taken up at Tirumala as once the assemblage is completed and the chariot is readied, it will be very difficult to roll it up to the sacred shrine.

Highly-informed sources said that over 70 kilograms of gold is expected to go in into the making of the chariot which is supposed to be ready by September 15 ahead of the annual Brahmotsavams.

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 2, 2013.