TTD To Develop Spiritual Township Near Alipiri, Accommodation For 25,000 Devotees
The board decided to relocate the existing sculpture institute at Alipiri to the Devlok premises on the SV Zoo Park Road to implement the project: TTD chairman B.R. Naidu
TIRUPATI: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board on Tuesday resolved to establish a spiritual township on a 20-acre site at Alipiri near Tirupati to strengthen pilgrim management and improve facilities for devotees visiting Tirumala.
Briefing the media after a meeting in Tirumala, TTD chairman B.R. Naidu said the board decided to relocate the existing sculpture institute at Alipiri to the Devlok premises on the SV Zoo Park Road to implement the project. The township would feature modern accommodation and essential amenities and is envisaged as a base camp for regulating pilgrim footfall to the hill shrine, especially during peak seasons.
The chairman said the spiritual township would offer accommodation for at least 25,000 devotees at a time. It would incorporate divine and theme-based elements to create a spiritually enriching atmosphere for pilgrims before they commence their journey to Tirumala.
The Alipiri site is the gateway to the hill shrine.
The board approved the appointment of an architect to plan the project.
Among other decisions, the board earmarked 100 acres near Palamaner for the “Temple Trees” initiative to cultivate sacred tree species used for making wooden logs for Dwajasthambhams and temple chariots.
In the healthcare sector, it cleared the remaining hurdles for completing the Sri Padmavathi Paediatric Super Specialty Hospital in Tirupati by sanctioning an additional ₹48 crore, taking the total approved amount to about ₹230 crore.
In education, the board approved the introduction of digital classrooms, CCTV cameras, computers, required software and staff in 31 TTD-run institutions. It also decided to extend the mid-day meal scheme to day scholars of Sri Venkateswara Junior College and Sri Padmavathi Women’s Junior College, in line with the state policy.
Hostel capacity at Sri Padmavathi Women’s Degree College would be increased from 2,100 to 2,370 seats through additional blocks.
The board further approved ₹14.10 crore for the second phase of reconstruction of the Sri Siddeswara Swamy temple at Talakona, in addition to the ₹4 crore sanctioned earlier, and cleared release of ₹14 crore for constructing a Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Bandra in Mumbai.
The meeting also resolved to set up a dedicated department for preserving ancient structures in Tirumala, rename roads and junctions with spiritual significance, fill 60 vacancies in the engineering wing, revise temple staff wages, and create new posts in Srivari Potu and Sannidhi Yadava categories as per rules.