TIRUMALA, July 3, 2013: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) management, which normally focuses on the development of the Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala, has shifted its attention to the development of other temples under its fold, if its proposed expansion plans are any indication.

The sole custodian of the richest temple of Lord Venkateswara – TTD has already submitted proposals to the State government seeking its approval for the acquisition of over five acres of land initially around the sacred shrine of goddess Padmavathi at Tiruchanoor situated about five kilometres from Tirupati.

In the same vein, the TTD has also sought the intervention of the State government for the allocation of over eighteen acres of land around the temple of Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy in Srinivasa mangapuram situated about ten kilometres from Tirupati.

Talking to The Hindu, the TTD’s Executive Officer L.V. Subramanyam said that the ancient temple at Srinivasa mangapuram had been registering a steady increase in the turnout of pilgrims, which forced the management to swing into expansion mode enabling it to take up developmental works including the formation of mada streets around the shrine and creation of other amenities. The management has already succeeded in securing the required permission from the department of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for the construction of a temple tank (Pushkarini) at a whopping cost of Rs. 99 lakh.

Similarly, proposals are also afoot for acquiring over five acres of land at Prasanna Venkateswara Swamy temple in Appalyagunta near Puttur for the creation of basic amenities in the interest of the pilgrims.

SOURCE: The Hindu, DT. July 3, 2013.