NIZAMABAD: Maintenance of marriage function halls constructed and owned by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams in AP and Telangana states, has turned burdensome.
Of 250 marriage halls, around 100 marriage halls are lying idle with no bookings.
Private function halls charging exorbitant rates are increasing, whereas TTD Kalyana mandapams available with affordable charges, are lying vacant. As a result, the maintenance of marriage halls has turned problematic.
Large Kalyana mandapams are charging Rs 3,000 and small halls are available for Rs 1,500 rental for functions, but there is no demand. Most of the TTD Kalyana mandapams were constructed in faraway places, some distance from the cities and towns.
The TTD authorities constructed these mandapams in places where the land is available free of cost. Few political leaders were forced to construct the Kalyana mandapams out of political interests instead of viability of the buildings in future.
To make matters worse, non-vegetarian food is not allowed in TTD Kalyana mandapams. Chairs, cooking vessels are also not available in TTD marriage halls. The result of all this is that the maintenance of these marriage halls has turned problematic.
Speaking to this correspondent, TTD board member and former MLC Arikela Narsa Reddy said that TTD has decided to stop construction of new Kalyana mandapams in two Telugu states.
TTD is planning to make use of the available Kalyana mandapams, he added. Keeping in mind the non-profit approach, TTD will not lease Kalyana mandapams to private persons, he said. Usually, private function halls give top priority to cleanliness and collect higher charges, he opined.
