TTD Chairman Vows Action Against Non-Hindu Religious Propaganda in Tirumala

Tirumala: The trust board chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Bollineni Rajagopala Naidu, has vowed to curb any non-Hindu religious propaganda within the holy town of Tirumala.

Addressing the media here after taking office on Wednesday, Naidu said the board’s primary focus will be to safeguard the sanctity of the world-renowned Hindu pilgrimage site and ensure hassle-free darshan for the large swarms of devotees.

Naidu made it clear that only Hindu religious activities would be allowed in Tirumala. “Discussions are on to solve the issue of presence in Tirumala of some TTD employees from other religions. This is a sensitive issue and the board will address it in consultation with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. We will ensure that the sanctity of Tirumala is preserved at all costs,” he said.

Regarding allegations of fund misuse within the SRIVANI Trust, he stated a vigilance inquiry was ongoing. “The trust board is committed to transparency and the findings will be submitted to the government once the investigations conclude.”

Naidu stated that under the chief minister’s guidance, a cleansing process has commenced in TTD to ensure accountability.

Lauding the recently concluded annual Tirumala Brahmotsavams, led by executive officer J Syamala Rao and additional EO Venkaiah Chowdary, the chairman said the mega event was an impressive demonstration of the TTD workforce’s dedication to tradition and effective management.

TTD’s operations cover a workforce of over 22,000 employees, including 6,000 permanent staff. He expressed confidence in the trust board’s ability to leverage the strengths of this dedicated team to enhance the services and uphold the temple governing body’s reputation.

Highlighting the challenges posed by the heavy influx of devotees, Naidu cited the difficulty in accommodating peak-day swarms that often exceed a lakh of visitors a day. While TTD provides hassle-free darshan for 80,000 to 85,000 devotees daily, the growing numbers present logistical challenges, he said.

Naidu said infrastructure improvements and crowd management are top priorities of the board. “We are committed to providing a safe and comfortable experience for the visitors.”

In an introductory session, the chairman interacted with senior TTD officers. EO Rao provided an overview of TTD’s activities, highlighting each department's role in facilitating pilgrim services. Several board members, additional EO Venkaiah Chowdary, JEO Veerabrahmam, CVSO Sridhar and other departmental heads were present.