21-05-2025
TTD trust Board decides to increase green cover in Tirumala to 80%, improve infrastructure
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), in a Trust Board meeting on Tuesday, adopted a series of resolutions aimed at improving infrastructure, spiritual sanctity, and environmental sustainability across the temple ecosystem at Tirumala.
TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu and Executive Officer J. Syamala Rao and other members trustees attended the meeting.
Briefing the media, Mr. Syamala Rao said that in line with the directives of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Trust Board has decided to launch an ambitious afforestation programme with the target of increasing Tirumala's green cover from 68.14% to 80%. The Forest Department will spearhead the initiative for which over ₹4 crore would be allocated in phases over the next three years.
The TTD also sanctioned an additional ₹71 crore per annum to Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), supplementing the existing ₹60 crore support. Plans are afoot to recruit doctors, nurses, and the required paramedical staff and complete the buildings of the Oncology Wing and Sri Padmavati Children's Hospital within a stipulated time. Around 85% of these projects have been completed.
Srivari Vaidya Seva
To bolster healthcare services, the temple Trust Board has approved a proposal to launch 'Srivari Vaidya Seva', a volunteer programme as part of which medical professionals would be roped in to offer services to the needy.
As part of reinforcing the security arrangements and protecting the temple town from aerial threats, it was resolved to espouse anti-drone technology.
In a strategic move, the Trust Board approved inviting technical and financial proposals from architectural consultants to develop a comprehensive master plan for developing temples at Tiruchanoor, Amaravati, Narayanavanam, Kapilatheertham, Nagalapuram, and Vontimitta.
It resolved to rename a couple of rest houses on its own, with donors failing to respond to its request to provide names after the deities in line with its spiritual heritage.
New framework for licensing canteens
To ensure that the devotees receive nutritious and hygienic food, it was resolved to adopt a new framework for licensing Big Canteens and Janatha Canteens existing atop the hill town.
Other key decisions include developing the Sridevi and Bhudevi Sameta Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Anantavaram in Amaravati and initiating legal proceedings against the makers of the Tamil film DD Next Level for hurting the sentiments of the multitude of devotees by remixing the popular 'Govinda Namavali' of Lord Venkateswara.
