TTD board to allocate 1pc of total revenue for Tirupati city development
Tirupati: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board has decided to allocate one per cent of its annual budget towards comprehensive development of Tirupati city, the gateway to Tirumala hills. This would come to around Rs 36 crore. The board also took several other decisions during its meeting in Tirumala on Monday.
TTD board chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy said the city’s development remained neglected for decades. The one per cent of the TTD’s annual budget would be set apart for this purpose under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the TTD.
TTD executive officer A.V. Dharma Reddy said the Tirupati trust's annual revenue now stands at Rs 3,600 crore, of which Rs 36 crore would be allotted for the city's development this year. The trust board would also undertake essential repair and sanitation works, as well as road maintenance in areas that house its temples, rest houses, offices and choultries.
The board also passed some other resolutions. As per these, it would launch a Sri Srinivasa Divyanugraha Visesha Homam at Alipiri Goshala. This would be open to Hindu devotees worldwide throughout the year for a nominal fee.
The trust board approved a salary hike from Rs 12,000 to Rs 17,000 for 4,700 workers employed under the health department and other facility management services within the TTD.
Additionally, a 3 per cent hike was granted to outsourcing staff working under Sri Lakshmi Srinivasa Manpower Corporation. Incentives will also be provided every two years for the 6,600 contract employees migrated from TTD to the corporation.
The board approved plans for construction of permanent queue lines along the Outer Ring Road, from Gogarbham dam to Narayanagiri park, at a cost of Rs 18 crore. A fund of Rs 2.81 crore was sanctioned for construction of footpath shelters from Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple to Mokalimettu on the first ghat road of Tirumala.
Nod was given for expanding the existing two-lane road to a four-lane from Akasha Ganga to the ORR, with a budget of '40 crore. Special steps will be taken to safeguard the Gogarbham Dam. A four-lane road will be constructed from Varaha Swamy Rest House to the Outer Ring Road at a cost of Rs 10.80 crore.
In an effort to protect ancient structures, a committee comprising IIT experts will be formed to assess the structural integrity of all temples and Gopurams under TTD's purview. Based on the committee’s recommendations, necessary repairs and preservation efforts will be initiated.
Another decision was to allocate Rs 2.63 crore annually to provide quality, nutritious mid-day meals to 3,259 students in TTD schools.
The board also recommended Padmashree title for its court musician, Garimella Balakrishna Prasad.
