Tirupati set for ₹3,222-crore revamp: 2,700-room pilgrim township, 20 km of roads, net-zero push
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday launched development projects worth ₹3,222 crore aimed at modernising pilgrim facilities in Tirupati, the temple town that serves as the gateway to the Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala. The projects were launched virtually, with the Chief Minister taking part through video conferencing rather than attending in person.
Tirupati, in southern Andhra Pradesh, is among the most visited pilgrimage centres in the world. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), an autonomous trust that manages the hill temple, and the Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) are among the agencies that will implement the projects announced on Monday.
The centrepiece is an integrated pilgrim township planned near the Alipiri–SV Zoo Park Road. It is envisaged as a single facility offering accommodation, annaprasadam, transport, parking, healthcare, security and digital information services. The township will have 2,700 rooms spread across four 10-storey blocks at a cost of ₹1,332 crore, with capacity for about 15,000 pilgrims a day.
An annaprasadam centre able to serve 6,000 devotees at a time will be built at ₹160 crore. A multi-level parking facility for 4,500 vehicles and an integrated transport terminal with 30 bus bays are planned at ₹311 crore and ₹90 crore respectively. A Pilgrim Experience Centre showcasing the history and traditions of the Srivari temple is also part of the plan.
Nine master-plan roads covering about 20 km are to be developed to ease congestion and improve connectivity. TUDA will invest ₹127 crore in 16.5 km of roads, while the TTD will spend ₹115 crore on another 3.6 km. The roads are intended to strengthen links between National Highways 140 and 71 and improve access to the Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple at Tiruchanoor.
Infrastructure will also be developed across the 418-acre Padiredu Aranyam housing layout, where plots have been allotted to 5,192 TTD employees in the first two phases. The TTD will contribute ₹150 crore and the employees ₹80 crore towards the project.
Mr. Naidu asked officials to develop the pilgrim township as an environment-friendly, net-zero project, stressing the need to protect lakes, medicinal plant habitats and wildlife in the area. He also urged them to incorporate information on TTD initiatives such as Annadanam, Vidyadanam, Pranadanam and Srivari Seva.
Envisaging a wider economic role for the city, the Chief Minister suggested promoting Tirupati as a destination for weddings, international conferences and sporting events. He called for an international-standard convention centre, improved sports infrastructure, an Andhra Cricket Association stadium and skill-training programmes to generate employment for local youth.
He directed officials to coordinate their efforts to develop Tirupati into a model spiritual city that combines devotion and pilgrim convenience with environmental protection and planned urban development.
