TTD bans film, DJ songs in all its kalyana mandapams

TIRUMALA: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board has taken a big decision to impose ban on film and DJ songs in marriages in all its kalyana mandapams and also spend one per cent of the TTD's budget every year for the development of Tirupati.

Speaking after participating in the TTD trust board meeting at Annamayya Bhavan, TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakara Reddy said that in order to avoid recurrence of collapses and damages of ancient structures, a committee with IIT experts would be formed to check the strength of all the temples and Gopurams under the fold of TTD which were constructed several centuries ago. Based on the report of the committee, repairs would be taken to ensure that the temples are protected for future generations, he said.

Karunakara Reddy also said that the board had given a nod towards the expansion of the existing two-lane to four-lane road from Akashaganga to Outer Ring Road at a cost of Rs 40 crore following increased traffic congestion on the way to Japali Theertham, Sri Venugopalaswamy temple, Anjanadri Akashaganga and Papavinasanam in Tirumala. In this, plans were also made to ensure the safety of the Gogarbham Dam so that the construction of the road would come below the dam, he added.

The TTD chairman said that the road from Cherlopalli to Srinivasa Mangapuram had increased exponentially, and the board gave administrative permission for Rs 25 crore to expand it into a four-lane road and carry out other beautification works considering the pilgrim rush. Apart from that, tenders were also approved for the expansion of the subway at Rs 2.37 crore which would enable the devotees to go directly from the RTC bus stand to the Srinivasam complex without being exposed to accidents due to heavy traffic in front of Srinivasam, he said.

Other key highlights from the TTD board meeting

• The TTD would conduct a special homam, Sri Srinivasa Divyanugraha Visesha Homam at Sapta Go Pradakshina Mandiram at Alipiri. The Hindus across the world contribute to pay for the performance of this Yajna. The date would be decided soon.
• The TTD would reconstruct 13 rest houses like Gayatri Sadan, Srivari Kutir, TBC-53, TBC-64 etc. that were built 63 years ago in Tirumala under the Cottage Donation Scheme following the current conditions.
• Tenders were finalised for the construction of footpath shelters at an estimated cost of Rs 2.81 crore from Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple to Mokalimettu on the first ghat road of Tirumala so that the devotees who walk on the side of the road would not suffer due to excessive heat and getting wet during rainfall.
• In view of heavy traffic, at Varaha Swamy Rest House, an approval was given by the TTD for the construction of a four-lane road, footpath, drains, streetlights and sign boards from Varaha Swamy Rest House to Outer Ring Road at Rs 10.80 crore for the convenience of the pilgrims.
• Tenders were approved for the construction of the third floor and other improvements at Rs 2.93 crore in Narayangiri canteen operated by AP Tourism in Tirumala.
• The TTD board approved to construct a permanent queue up to GG Dam along the Outer Ring Road to avoid pilgrim woes during the heavy rush season at a cost of Rs 18 crore.
• A decision was taken up for repairs, sanitation besides the maintenance of roads where TTD establishments like temples, rest houses, and choultries etc. are located in and around Tirupati. Around Rs 2.63 crore per annum would be spent on mid-day meals from academic year 2023-24 to provide quality, tasty and nutritious food to as many as 3,259 students studying in TTD schools.
• The TTD board decided to recommend the prestigious Padma Shri title to its court musician Dr Garimella Balakrishna Prasad and sent the proposals to the State Government in this regard.
• Salary enhancement for more than 4,700 sanitation workers of the health department and FMS sanitation workers who were working under contracts and outsourcing agencies in TTD from Rs 12,000 to Rs 17,000. According to this, each contract sanitation worker would get a profit of Rs 5,000 per month, which included gross.
• The TTD board sanctioned an annual hike at the rate of 3 per cent per annum to the staff outsourced and agreed to give incentives for every two years of completed years of service to the migrated employees from TTD to Sri Lakshmi Srinivasa Manpower Corporation (SLSMPC). This would benefit nearly 6,600 staff.
• Rs 2 lakh compensation to the family members in case of premature natural death of any employee working under the corporation.
• Implementation of a health scheme for the employees of SLSMPC for whom ESI is not applicable through the hospitals under the TTD which would benefit about 1,500 employees.

TTD executive officer AV Dharma Reddy, principal secretary (Endowments) Karikala Valaven, endowments commissioner Satyanarayana, TTD officials and board members were also present.