AP Launches Rs 808 Cr Temple Revival Drive: Anam

The minister laid the foundation stone for the restoration of the historic Sri Nageswara Swamy Temple at Perumallapadu, a centuries-old shrine that resurfaced from beneath sand deposits of the Penna River, along with the reconstruction of Sri Chennakesava Swamy temples at Chejerla and Chittaluru.

The three projects, estimated at Rs 5.5 crore, are aimed at reviving the temples to their former glory while promoting spiritual tourism in the region.

The Sri Nageswara Swamy Temple alone will be restored at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore. Believed to be 200-300 years old, the ancient Shaivite shrine had fallen into ruins before being rediscovered beneath the Penna riverbed.

Local residents thanked the minister for fulfilling his promise to transform the neglected temple into a prominent pilgrimage destination.

Addressing devotees at Chittaluru, Anam said temples are not merely places of worship but enduring symbols of India's culture, Sanatana Dharma and Vedic traditions. Under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the government has accorded top priority to the revival of spiritual and heritage institutions across the state, he said.

Highlighting the government's broader vision, the minister said work has begun on restoring 684 ancient temples with an investment of Rs 808 crore. He also announced a target of constructing 5,000 Srivani temples within the next three years.

The minister said 6,229 temples are receiving financial assistance of Rs 75 crore under the Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam scheme. Trust boards have already been constituted for 988 temples, while another 412 temples will soon get governing bodies.

Under the Srivani Trust, the government plans to spend nearly Rs 1,500 crore to build 5,000 Bhajana Mandirams, with Rs 216.45 crore already sanctioned for 1,269 prayer halls.

Anam noted that pilgrim footfall at major temples across Andhra Pradesh has risen significantly, attributing the increase to initiatives such as the Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam, Srivani and other temple development programmes.

Nearly three crore devotees have benefited from prasadam distribution so far, while around 24 lakh devotees receive free annaprasadam every month. The government also plans to extend the scheme to 111 more temples.

Looking ahead to the 2027 Godavari Pushkarams, the minister said restoration and renovation works at 52 temples along the Godavari River are being expedited. He urged people to actively participate in preserving ancient temples, stating that while rebuilding shrines is the government's responsibility, protecting and sustaining them remains a collective duty of society.