Chief Minister Naidu had earlier said that non-Hindu staff would be transferred to other government departments to “protect the sanctity of the temple town”.
Published Mar 24, 2025 | 8:10 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 24, 2025 | 8:10 PM
Synopsis: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Trust Board has formally adopted a resolution preventing non-Hindu employees from working at its temples, following a suggestion by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The board also reclaimed land previously allocated for a hotel project by Mumtaz Hotels at Alipiri after protests by Hindu organisations.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board has formally adopted a resolution barring non-Hindu employees from working at its temples.
The decision, taken on Monday, 24 March, follows an earlier suggestion by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, made during his visit to the Tirumala shrine on 21 March, on the occasion of his grandson Nara Devansh’s birthday.
Although the TTD board, chaired by BR Naidu, initially endorsed the policy during its first meeting in November 2024, the proposal was formally ratified at Monday’s session.
The move reflects the resolve of both the TTD and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-led state government to ensure that only Hindu employees serve in temples administered by the TTD.
Chief Minister Naidu had earlier said that non-Hindu staff would be transferred to other government departments to “protect the sanctity of the temple town”.
In a related development, the TTD board reaffirmed an earlier resolution to reclaim land allocated for the Mumtaz Hotels project at Alipiri, at the foot of the Tirumala hills.
The 35.24 acres originally allotted to the hotel project, a subsidiary of the Oberoi Group, along with an additional 15 acres held by the Tourism Department, will revert to the TTD.
The decision follows protests by several Hindu organisations demanding cancellation of the project, which they claimed amounted to “sacrilege” against the Tirumala hills.
Two separate Public Interest Litigations (PILs) were also filed in the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking cancellation of the land allocation.
However, the TTD board will allocate an alternative 50-acre site elsewhere for the hotel project. Chairman B R Naidu confirmed that this proposal was presented based on instructions from Chief Minister Naidu.
Chairman Naidu also confirmed the cancellation of a 20-acre land allotment previously made for the Science City project due to lack of construction progress.
Chairman Naidu further announced plans to build Lord Venkateswara temples abroad, funded through the Sri Vani Trust and another trust to be established soon.
The board also approved the construction of Lord Venkateswara temples in the capitals of all Indian states.
Naidu said some states have already responded positively, and the Chief Minister has promised to discuss the proposal with states yet to reply. The TTD also committed to completing unfinished temples in towns and villages across Andhra Pradesh.
New temple constructions were announced for locations including Tirupati Gangamma, Talakona, Bugga in Kurnool district, Upamaka in Anakapalli, and Dharmavaram in Andhra Pradesh, as well as Kodangal, Secunderabad, and Karimnagar in Telangana.
The board also approved a budget of ₹5,258.68 crore for the financial year 2025-26 and recommended resuming VIP break darshans at 6 am, as practised previously.
To address local operational concerns, Naidu announced the creation of a task force under the Revenue and Vigilance departments to deal with unlicensed hawkers.
Additionally, the TTD established a committee to recommend benefits for 180 contract lecturers working in TTD institutions. Another committee will focus on issuing offline tickets for elderly and disabled visitors.
Chairman Naidu also confirmed the dissolution of the previous Agama Advisory Council, adding that a new council would soon be appointed. Finally, ₹1 crore was sanctioned for the development of the Srinivasam Sports Complex.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
