Andhra CM Lays Foundation For Rs 260 cr Temple Expansion Works
Under the first phase of these works at the temple in Venkatapalem village, Rs 140 crore will be spent on building a compound wall, seven storeyed maha gopuram, arjita seva mandapam, Radha mandapam, Anjaneya Swamy temple and pushkarini works, said an official release
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday laid the foundation stone for Rs 260 crore expansion works of Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Guntur district.
Under the first phase of these works at the temple in Venkatapalem village, Rs 140 crore will be spent on building a compound wall, seven storeyed maha gopuram, arjita seva mandapam, Radha mandapam, Anjaneya Swamy temple and pushkarini works, said an official release.
"We have resolved to expand the holy temple of Venkateswara Swamy. Not only Amaravati, this temple has the power to save this region," said Naidu, addressing the devotees who gathered for the foundation ceremony.
As part of the second phase, Srivari temple mada street, approach roads, annadanam complex, yatri nivas, residential quarters for the priests and staff, administrative building, dhyana mandir and vehicle parking areas will be developed.
Seeking the deity's blessings for everybody with good health, wealth and happiness, the CM gave a call to devotees to come forward to build temples.
Naidu asserted that he will neither do anything which brings disrepute to Sri Venkateswara Swamy nor let others do it.
Though 25 acres of land was allotted for the temple falling under the purview of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) earlier, the previous YSRCP government had "cancelled the expansion works by cutting down the land area," the release alleged.
"Now the NDA government (has) decided to take up (the) expansion and development of Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple," it said.
Naidu is keen on developing the temple with all amenities to make it a spiritual centre.
Reflecting on the greenfield capital city of Amaravati, the TDP supremo assured people not to lose courage over it and noted that Sri Venkateswara Swamy in Amaravati will emerge as a 'capital of goddesses'.
Calling on people to cooperate, the CM thanked Amaravati farmers for pooling 33,000 acres of land for the greenfield capital city.
According to the TDP supremo, there were no instances of the previous YSRCP regime doing good and alleged that Amaravati farmers were meted out with ill-treatment though they had given land with a good intention.