Ravichandra Takes Charge as Chairman of TTD Specified Authority; Race for Trust Board Post Begins
The arrangement followed the expiry of the tenure of the TTD trust board, headed by B.R. Naidu, on October 31.
TIRUPATI: Executive officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Muddada Ravichandra, on Friday took charge as chairman of the three-member Specified Authority, which will oversee the administration of the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirumala and 64 other shrines managed by the TTD.
The state government constituted the Specified Authority on November 2, appointing senior IAS officers V. Vinay Chand and K. Kanna Babu as its members. The arrangement followed the expiry of the tenure of the TTD trust board, headed by B.R. Naidu, on October 31.
The specified authority would exercise the powers and discharge the responsibilities of the trust board for a year or until a new board is constituted, whichever is earlier. The interim arrangement comes amid the enforcement of the model code of conduct in the state for local body elections, which has delayed the government's decision on appointing a new board.
Additional executive officer Venkaiah Chowdary administered the oath to Ravichandra at the Bangaru Vakili inside the Tirumala temple. After taking charge, Ravichandra thanked the state government and chief minister Chandrababu Naidu for giving him the opportunity to serve the TTD.
Speaking to the media, Ravichandra said his priority would be to continue existing service activities more effectively and improve facilities for pilgrims visiting Tirumala. The TTD, he said, would make arrangements to ensure that devotees could concentrate on the darshan of the deity without worrying about other facilities.
He said efforts would also be made to improve services at all temples managed by the TTD, provide quality education and facilities for the overall development of students in its educational institutions, and strengthen medical services at TTD-run hospitals through modern infrastructure.
Meanwhile, discussions over the appointment of the next TTD trust board chairman have gathered pace, with senior TD legislators Kimidi Kala Venkata Rao and Jyothula Nehru being mentioned as possible contenders.
Industrialist C.M. Ravi Sankar and NRI industrialist Srinivasa Ramanujam have also figured in discussions over the post. The Chief Minister is expected to take a final decision after consultations within the ruling alliance.
