TTD Swapping Land For A 5-Star Resort Drawing Criticism

The opposition is alleging that the decision harms the interests of the temple as well as the devotees.

The controversy stems from G.O. No. 45 on December 13, 2025, through which the Chandrababu Naidu government has accepted recommendations of the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) to exchange 20 acres of TTD-owned land near Alipiri with an equal extent of land belonging to the Tourism department at Peruru village in Tirupati Rural mandal.

The Alipiri land, located within the Tirupati Urban limits, is proposed to be allotted to the Oberoi Group for establishing five-star villas and a luxury resort.

Opposition leaders, particularly from the YSR Congress (YSRC) Party, have questioned both the rationale and valuation of the exchange. They point out that the government has swapped highly valuable temple land for a lower-value parcel owned by the tourism department. The opposition leaders have termed the move as detrimental to the financial interests of the TTD.

The hospitality project had initially been proposed under the name Mumtaz Hotels Limited when the YSRC had been in power. The allotment of land at Peruru by the then government faced strong objections from Hindu organisations due to its proximity to Alipiri and concerns over the company’s name.

When the Telugu Desam-led coalition government came to power, it cancelled the allotment of the Peruru land.

In the changed circumstances, promoters of the five-star villas and luxury resort reconstituted the firm as Svara Hotels Limited and submitted a revised proposal seeking an alternative arrangement. Based on this fresh proposal, the AP Council of Ministers approved the land swap and went on to extend incentives, including waiver of stamp duty and registration charges amounting to ₹26 crore, along with an additional waiver of about ₹32 crore towards stamp duty for executing the exchange deed with the TTD.

Former TTD board chairman and senior YSRC leader Bhumana Karunakar Reddy questioned the financial logic of the exchange, alleging a wide disparity in land values. He claimed that the Tourism department land at Peruru is valued at around ₹18 crore, while the TTD land near Alipiri is worth nearly ₹520 crore. He sought a probe into what he described as a murky deal causing a permanent loss to TTD.

Recalling earlier objections from devotees and religious heads, Bhumana said the TTD board had passed a resolution seeking cancellation of the Peruru allotment when the project had been proposed under the name of Mumtaz Hotels. He argued that once the naming issue has been resolved through rebranding, there is no justification in abandoning the original site and proceeding with an exchange involving prime TTD land.

Concerns have also been raised by former AP chief secretary L.V. Subrahmanyam, who had earlier served as TTD executive officer. He said alienating TTD property for a tourism project is contrary to the AP Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act and the TTD Act.

Citing settled judicial principles, including rulings of the Supreme Court, Subrahmanyam said temple assets could be used only for pilgrims’ welfare and spiritual purposes. He also questioned the need for extending major incentives to a private hospitality project in a city that already has substantial hotel infrastructure.